Community larders saved 18.5 tonnes of food waste during festive period

The South Northants Volunteer Bureau’s Towcester and Roade community larders reported rescuing more than 18.5 tonnes of food over a two-week festive period, with about 200 people attending a Christmas Eve pop-up. The larders operate as social supermarkets open to all and work with organisations such as SOFEA (a FareShare partner) alongside business donations.

The South Northants Volunteer Bureau (SNVB) runs community larders in Towcester and Roade that operate as social supermarkets open to anyone rather than as needs‑based food banks. The larders acquire surplus food through partners such as SOFEA (a FareShare partner) and receive donations from local businesses. They offer a range of items including chilled and frozen food, fruit and vegetables, toiletries, pet food and store cupboard basics. Membership involves an annual fee with different tiers that allocate points per visit, and some attendees use pay-as-you-go options. The group marked a period of growth in late 2025 and reported saving 18.5 tonnes of food over the two-week festive period, including a Christmas Eve pop-up attended by nearly 200 people. Key facts: - The Towcester larder meets at the Riverside Centre on Islington Road; the Roade larder meets at Roade Village Hall. - Larders are described as social supermarkets and are open to all, not limited to people in food poverty. - The larders source surplus food from SOFEA (a partner of FareShare) and accept business donations. - Membership requires an annual joining fee and offers different tiers or pay-as-you-go options for sessions. - Coordinators reported growth from about 30 to 400 weekly shoppers and an increase in volunteer numbers to more than 100, and said weekly distributions rose from around half a tonne to about five tonnes. Summary: The reported impact is that the Towcester and Roade larders helped redirect more than 18.5 tonnes of food away from waste during the two-week festive period and engaged nearly 200 people at a Christmas Eve event. The organisation has grown in volunteer support and weekly use, and its leaders shared the figures as positive news heading into the new year.