The Waste-Not Kitchen charity today launched a range of nourishing and delicious soups, providing a practical solution to reducing food waste whilst nourishing those in need. The soups are filled with NZ-raised meat and fresh vegetables that have been donated by New Zealand food retailers Farro and T&G Global. They are available now in Farro stores around Auckland.
For every soup bought, the registered charity will donate one to families in need at Auckland Women’s Refuge or to growing Kiwi kids participating in the I Have A Dream Programme charity. You get a great tasting and hearty soup for lunch or dinner and at the same time you are giving a meal to someone in need in the community.
The Waste-Not Kitchen charity was created by sisters Janene Draper (co-founder of Farro food stores) and Leysa Ross, who were inspired to provide nutritious ready-to-heat meals for people in need, made from good food that would otherwise not be used.
“We want to eliminate food waste, feed those in need in our community and have a positive impact on our planet,” says Waste-Not Kitchen co-creator and General Manager, Leysa Ross. “These are tasty soups for people to enjoy but with the added benefit of feeding those in need and helping reducing food waste in New Zealand.”
Every year Kiwis send 157,389 tonnes of food to landfill that could have been eaten. In the USA, 40% of food produced never gets eaten. Globally, 1.3 billion tonnes of food is wasted every year. If this amount is reduced by just a quarter, there would be enough food to feed everybody on the planet. *
Janene Draper & Leysa Ross
Waste-Not Kitchen came about to address the problem of surplus retail meat going to landfill.
“If we have gone to the effort to produce meat, let’s ensure it is all used and used wisely. Waste-Not Kitchen uses surplus meat and vegetables, that would otherwise be thrown out, to make ready-to-heat hearty meals,” says co-creator Janene Draper.
Both being self-confessed foodies, Janene and Leysa developed the recipes based on their own family favourite soups and have worked hard to make delicious, flavoursome products that people will enjoy. There are four flavours of soups: Roast Chicken, Hearty Beef & Bean, Moroccan Lamb and Asian Pork Noodle. Soups retail at $9.99 for a 620ml pottle, serving two people in your household as well as another two people in our community. The soup containers are made from fully recyclable materials.
Waste-Not Kitchen soups will be donated to help women and children at Auckland Women’s Refuge as well as young people involved in the I Have A Dream programme. The I Have A Dream initiative provides long-term mentors for NZ children through primary, secondary and tertiary education, offering academic oversight, encouragement and support.
“We are delighted to work with Waste-Not Kitchen. Ensuring our I Have A Dream children are well nourished is essential – good meals help them be more engaged and energised to learn better on their educational pathway,’’ says Ant Backhouse, I Have A Dream CEO.
“Eating good nutritious food made with love is a sign of how important the women and children in our refuges are,” says Nonga Staples, Refuge Advocate of Auckland Women’s Refuge.
Waste-Not Kitchen soups are available now at Farro stores, from the freezer, in Auckland.
