This year, FoodCloud celebrated an incredible milestone of 331 million meals redistributed since 2013 across our two solutions in six countries. We could not do what we do without you.

In every community we support, surplus food is becoming a vital resource. Despite the challenges, the complexities and the enormity of the problem of food loss and waste, we believe Ireland can be a global leader in food waste reduction and redistribution, and we want to thank you for partnering with us. You are playing a vital role in solving this global problem with a local solution. 

From all of us here at FoodCloud, we wish you the very best for a wonderful festive season and look forward to working with you in 2025.

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Awards recognising good governance and impact for FoodCloud

In November FoodCloud won the Good Governance Award for our 2023 Annual Report. The judges commended the clear exposition of purpose, vision and operations, "FoodCloud follows a well-structured strategic plan based on its five key pillars. The values are well-highlighted and embedded throughout the report." 

And at the All Ireland Sustainability Awards, FoodCloud took home no less than four awards! We won Agri-Food Initiative of the Year, Food Waste Reduction Initiative of the Year, Tech for Good Initiative of the Year, and an overall award, Sustainable Business of the Year. Thank you to all the judges involved in judging the awards, we appreciate your recognition of our commitment to good governance, best practice and impact delivery. 

Celebrating 10 years in Cork 

This month we celebrated 10 years since the opening of our Cork Hub. Over the past decade, the incredible support from food donors, charities, and the community has helped us achieve amazing things across Munster. Together, we’ve redistributed 3,833 tonnes of surplus food, supported 250 charities and community groups, and partnered with 25 frequent food donors to reduce food waste and fight food insecurity. This impact wouldn’t be possible without the generosity and dedication of everyone involved.

Launching Food Circle

In November, we held our first Food Circle event aimed at supporting businesses to measure their food waste and donate surplus. Food donation in Ireland: carrots or sticks? delved into proposed EU legislative changes, with the latest from the EPA on measurement and an update from Brussels on amendments to the Waste Framework Directive. We also heard from food business owners on the front line of operations, food waste reduction and making donations to achieve social and environmental impacts.

If your business hasn’t signed up to the Food Waste Charter yet, well, now is the time to pledge, measure and act!

FoodCloud One Billion Meals initiative

In October, we launched our One Billion Meals initiative at St. Andrews Resource Centre in Dublin.. This ambitious campaign aims to tackle two of the world’s most urgent issues — hunger and food waste — with a bold goal: to rescue and redistribute one billion meals by 2030.

We were incredibly grateful to Michelin-starred chef Enda McEvoy for creating delicious canapés from surplus ingredients, David Carson of Darndale Foodbank, and Mary Whitelaw of AIB for their partnership and inspiring words at the event.

Join Us

We can't do this alone. We must raise €25 million over the next five years to make this a reality. Together, we can deliver One Billion Meals, feed millions of people, and protect our planet. If you or your company are interested in supporting us in reaching this goal over the holiday season please donate here or reach out at fundraising@foodcloud.ie to find out more. 

Celebrating one year of partnership with Food Banking Kenya

Thanks to funding from the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs, Food Banking Kenya redistributed 2.2 million meals using Foodiverse, FoodCloud’s food donation platform. That’s over 500 tonnes of surplus food delivered to people experiencing hunger and food insecurity in Kenya, including beneficiary Vineyard Children’s Centre. Our virtual food banking solution has also avoided approximately 494 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent from going to waste, demonstrating the important role of technology in combating climate change and increasing food access.

Oireachtas Report

The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action and the Environment, highlighted FoodCloud’s contribution to the circular economy in its report, avoiding emissions and building resilience, “The Committee noted the leadership shown by FoodCloud in reducing food waste in Ireland. Since being set up in 2012, and through the use of innovative digital solutions, FoodCloud directly connects retailers and food businesses with surplus food to local community groups that can use the food. To date, FoodCloud has helped to redistribute 280 million meals to 10,000 community partners in Ireland and five other countries. Members further noted initiatives such as the Grower's Project, which captures food waste in production phase, and virtual foodbanking, which extends the FoodCloud model to countries on the front-line of global poverty and climate breakdown.“ The Committee also recommended the development of a national programme for dealing with food waste at farm level.  

Launching FoodCloud Academy with ATU

In 2024 our partnership with Atlantic Technological University began, offering education and training programmes, including a Certificate in Sustainable Food Surplus Practice. This collaboration focuses on enhancing educational opportunities, reducing food waste, and supporting sustainable practices in food systems, equipping participants with the knowledge and skills to support the sustainable transition of food systems and address key UN SDGs.

Showcasing best practices and impact through FoodCloud Academy case studies
FoodCloud Academy sought to demonstrate how communities can use surplus food to solve an environmental problem and build resilience with a series of inspiring case studies, including the outstanding work of FEED Cork. Committed to delivering food with dignity, FEED Cork has created a warm and welcoming space, ensuring that those who use the service feel supported and respected, free from stigmatisation. Their weekly food bank and drop-in café provide essential emergency food support while fostering a true sense of belonging. FEED Cork has also developed a replicable food bank model, offering guidance for other organisations.  To explore more case studies and access practical toolkits, visit our FoodCloud Academy page.

Our international partnerships

In June we attended the FEBA conference in Prague,  where we were delighted with the Tesco Central Europe announcement that they would offer their suppliers a free 6-month trial with our tech-based food donation platform, Foodiverse.

Since 2022, all Tesco stores across the Czech Republic and Slovakia have been using Foodiverse, playing a crucial role in matching unsold surplus food with those who need it every day and helping Tesco cut food waste across their own operations. Meanwhile, through our relationship with Fareshare in the UK, we redistributed 19,644 tonnes of surplus food - the equivalent of nearly 47 million meals - in 2024 alone. 

AIB FoodCloud Community Meals Programme

On World Environment Day in May, we launched the AIB FoodCloud Community Meals Programme. Celebrating the launch, we hosted a community cooking event at Dublin Richmond Barracks, bringing together members from our community partners along with volunteer cooks from AIB, led by our head chef, Janice.

Expanding the Growers' Project

During 2024 we announced that the FoodCloud Growers’ Project received €165,000 from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine under the Rural Innovation and Development Fund to help us expand our efforts to reduce food waste and support communities across Ireland by addressing farm-level food waste and providing fresh produce to local community groups.
The project will redistribute over 150 tonnes of surplus produce from growers to more than 180 community and volunteer organisations via our hubs in Dublin, Galway, and Cork.

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