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An award-winning team fighting food waste

While some of us have got stuck into box-set viewing or baking sessions during the pandemic, Hastings-based husband-and-wife team Dominic and Alexandria Warren have had their attentions fully occupied by impressive philanthropic activities.

Dom’s Food Mission (domsfoodmission.com) is a dual-focussed charity – aiming to both reduce food waste while also helping to feed vulnerable members of the community.

Surplus food that would have ended up in landfill is redistributed to those who need it most. Launched in 2015, the charity helps around 4,000 people in a typical month, but during the pandemic that demand for help increased to over 8,000. In terms of sustainability, since it began, Dom’s Food Mission has stopped a staggering 35,000 tonnes of food going to waste.

“Seeing children go hungry is enough to make anyone want to help, so that’s what I did,” says Dom. “With the support of my amazing wife and fantastic team we help stop thousands of tonnes of food from hitting landfill and feed huge numbers of less fortunate people. These include children, families, children’s homes, homeless shelters and communities. To help others is the best feeling and I’m grateful for my incredible team and the whole charity.”

In January, in recognition of their efforts, Dom and Alexandria received the Points of Light award from prime minister Boris Johnson, and their hard work has also been recognised by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Their partnerships with local supermarkets allow shoppers to contribute using in-store drop-off stations. But it doesn’t stop there. Dom has also created A Helping Hand – a National Lottery-funded scheme which diverts surplus supermarket ingredients to support food and nutrition teaching in schools.