What Foodcloud does

FoodCloud is a global nonprofit social enterprise founded in 2012 and headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, that operates a food redistribution network connecting businesses with surplus food to local charitable partners. The organisation runs a dual mechanism: (1) Foodiverse, its proprietary technology platform comprising a web application, mobile app, and warehouse management system that enables retailers, manufacturers, and distributors to upload surplus food offerings and connected charities to receive notifications and schedule collections; and (2) three physical FoodCloud Hubs in Dublin, Cork, and Galway, equipped with refrigerated vans and cold-chain infrastructure that handle larger-volume industry surplus. Foodiverse is currently deployed across Ireland, the UK, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Kenya, serving 647+ community partners and 6,511 monthly active users of the application.

FoodCloud's revenue model combines retailer per-store subscription fees, weight-based charges for charities collecting from Hubs (costing charities approximately 90% less than retail prices), corporate partnership funding (most notably AIB at €500,000 per annum plus direct investment, alongside Danone Ireland), and a portfolio of government and EU grants and managed services contracts. Major institutional funding sources include the Enterprise Ireland Agile Innovation Fund (€500,000+ for Foodiverse R&D), the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (€165,000 for the Growers' Project), the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs (Kenya deployment via Irish Aid), the Social Innovation Fund Ireland Growth Fund (€330,000 per annum, matched by AIB), and the Department of Social Protection (nationwide ESF+ Food Support programme as the social enterprise's sole partner organisation). FoodCloud has raised approximately €2.65 million in disclosed funding across three major events and is publicly targeting €25 million over five years to fund its One Billion Meals initiative, which aims to redistribute one billion meals by 2030.

The organisation serves a tripartite customer base: food donor partners (Tesco, Lidl, Sysco, ABP Food Group, Danone, Aviva) as paying retail and corporate sponsors; community charities and NGOs (Ranelagh Community Response, Muslim Sisters of Éire, Feed Cork, Food Banking Kenya, 9th Westmeath Milltownpass Scout Group, multiple university pantries) as recipient organisations; and Irish government departments as institutional programme partners. Beyond core redistribution, FoodCloud operates FoodCloud Kitchen (community meal preparation), FoodCloud Academy (a QQI Level 6 accredited course on Sustainable Food Surplus Practices delivered with Atlantic Technological University), and the AIB FoodCloud Community Meals Programme (renewed 2024 for 200,000 community meals). The company is led by Co-CEOs and co-founders Iseult Ward and Aoibheann O'Brien, employs 101-250 people, and operates as a company limited by guarantee (Irish charity number CHY21177).

Name

Foodcloud

Legal name

FoodCloud

Website

https://food.cloud

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

FoodCloud is a Dublin-based nonprofit social enterprise that connects food businesses with surplus food to local charities and community groups via its Foodiverse technology platform and three physical hubs in Ireland, operating across six countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Food Redistribution Services

NAICS

Community Food Services (624210)

akta.pro primary industry

Food Assistance & Food Banks (BPAGAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Food Assistance & Nutrition Relief (Emergency Feeding) (BPAGAAAD), Food & Nutrition Assistance Programs (BPAIAKAF), Food Systems & Value Chain Development for Nutrition (BPADAJAG)

Keywords

• Food redistribution services
• Surplus food management
• Food waste reduction
• Charity logistics platform
• Community food support

Headquarters

HQ city

Dublin

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Retailer Subscription/Fees: FoodCloud charges retailers a fee per store to cover operating expenses. This enables sustainable operations as a social enterprise.
2. FoodCloud Hubs Weight-Based Charges: For charities collecting food from FoodCloud Hubs, there is a charge based on the weight of food being collected. This covers operational and upkeep costs of the three Hubs. On average saves charities 90% on retail price of items.
3. Corporate Partnership Funding: AIB committed €500,000 per annum for three years (€1.8m total), plus €100,000 directly invested. Supported by Social Innovation Fund Ireland Growth Fund at €330,000 per annum for three years.
4. Government Grants: Enterprise Ireland Agile Innovation Fund grant of €500,000+ for R&D to enhance Foodiverse platform. Department of Agriculture funding of €165,000 for Growers' Project. Department of Foreign Affairs funding for Kenya project.
5. ESF+ Food Support Programme: FoodCloud is the Department of Social Protection partner organisation for nationwide ESF+ Food Support in Ireland. Responsible for procurement, storage and arranging charity collection of food support products.
6. Charity Services (Free Tier): Charities collecting fresh surplus food directly from local retailers through FoodCloud's app receive food free of charge.
7. Donations and Fundraising: One Billion Meals initiative aims to raise €25 million over five years to support mission. Individual and corporate donations sought.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

FoodCloud operates a food redistribution ecosystem that connects food businesses with surplus food to local charities and community groups. The company delivers this through Foodiverse, a proprietary technology platform and mobile app, and three physical redistribution hubs in Dublin, Cork, and Galway. Food businesses pay subscription or per-store fees to use Foodiverse, while charities receive surplus food free of charge or at a 90% discount through the hubs.

Product overview

FoodCloud operates a multi-component food redistribution ecosystem comprising Foodiverse (its core technology platform/app for connecting surplus food donors with charities), FoodCloud Hubs (three physical redistribution warehouses in Dublin, Cork, and Galway), FoodCloud Kitchen (meal preparation service), and FoodCloud Academy (educational programmes). The organisation also administers government programmes including ESF+ Food Support and runs campaigns such as the One Billion Meals initiative. Foodiverse is available in Ireland, UK, Czech Republic, and Slovakia, while FoodCloud Hubs serve all 32 counties in Ireland.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Foodiverse: FoodCloud's food redistribution technology platform/app that connects food donors with charities and community organisations.
• FoodCloud Hubs
• One Billion Meals
• FoodCloud Kitchen
• FoodCloud Academy

Products and services

• Foodiverse Platform

Quantifiable outcome

• 450 million meals redistributed to date
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Enterprise MobilityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Provided transport support and driver for BiaBox food delivery service, enabling direct surplus food delivery to families' homes.
• Atlantic Technological University (ATU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 November 2024Launched QQI Level 6 accredited course 'Sustainable Food Surplus Practices' - one-year part-time programme. FoodCloud Academy provides educational programmes including MOOCs and case studies. Grant available for charity organisation members to cover module registration fees.
• Food Banking KenyacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2023Kenyan food bank using Foodiverse platform to establish virtual food banking system. 2.17 million meals redistributed, 500+ tonnes food, 494 tonnes CO2 saved. 25 beneficiary agencies supporting 5,000+ people.
• Global Foodbanking NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2023International organisation collaborating on Kenya project to enable local food bank to create virtual food banking system.
• Danone IrelandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 March 2023Third year of partnership redistributing surplus food equivalent to 486,000 meals since 2023. Includes nutrition education programme with Danone's registered dietitians providing recipes and guidance. Partnership saved 546 tonnes CO2 emissions. Aligned with FoodCloud's One Billion Meals campaign.
• Tesco Central EuropecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2022Tesco Central Europe announced free 6-month trial with Foodiverse for suppliers. Since 2022, all Tesco stores in Czech Republic and Slovakia use Foodiverse, helping cut food waste across operations.
• European Food Banks Federation (FEBA)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019FoodCloud attended FEBA Convention in Rome and received private audience with Pope Francis as part of FEBA group.
• TescocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2019Major food donor partner. Tesco Golden Island Athlone provides 6-night weekly surplus food collection for TUS Athlone. Active in Ireland and UK operations.
• Lidl IrelandcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2019Major food donor partner. Won Overall Repak Resource Award and Best Deposit Return Initiative Award. Supports FoodCloud via surplus food donations including to scout groups.
• SyscocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2019Food industry partner listed among FoodCloud's food donor partners, providing surplus food for redistribution.
• AvivaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019Corporate partner providing support for FoodCloud operations and community initiatives.
• GleniskminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019Irish dairy company partner supporting FoodCloud's sustainability and food redistribution mission.
• SageminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019Technology company partner supporting FoodCloud operations.
• ABP Food GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2019Major Irish food company partner providing surplus food for redistribution.
• Cork County CouncilminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019Local government partner supporting FoodCloud Cork Hub operations.
• Department of Social ProtectioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018FoodCloud is the DSP partner organisation for nationwide ESF+ Food Support in Ireland. Responsible for procurement, storage, and arranging charity collection of food support products for people experiencing poverty and social exclusion.
• FareShare (UK)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2018Acting as FoodCloud's business partner in charity recruitment in UK. Redistributed 19,644 tonnes surplus food (nearly 47 million meals) in 2024 via Foodiverse.

Scale indicators20 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Second Harvest: Canada's largest food rescue charity; operates a national food redistribution network with both technology platform and physical logistics — closely analogous operating model at significantly larger scale.
• Too Good To Go: Venture-backed European marketplace connecting food businesses with surplus food to consumers via a mobile app. Operates across the same donor/charity (and consumer) segments in Ireland and the UK but with a consumer-surplus rather than charity-redistribution focus.
• Olio: UK-based surplus food sharing app sharing portions of the same B2B food redistribution and B2C surplus-sharing market. Comparable technology-platform model but consumer-facing rather than charity-focused.

Direct peers

• FareShare: UK's largest charity food redistribution organisation operating a similar donor-to-charity model. FareShare is FoodCloud's channel partner for UK charity recruitment and runs the Foodiverse deployment in the UK — directly comparable in mission, model, and customer base.
• Food Banking Kenya: Kenyan food bank running the Foodiverse platform under licence from FoodCloud. Directly comparable operating model and use of Foodiverse technology in an emerging market setting.

Emerging players

• Copia: US-based B2B technology platform connecting businesses with surplus food to non-profits — a tech-only analogue to Foodiverse that targets similar enterprise donors in a different geography.
• Plan Zheroes: London-based surplus food redistribution charity connecting food businesses with local charities using an app. Closely comparable mission and technology-mediated donor-to-charity model in the UK.
• FoodForward SA: South African food redistribution organisation recovering surplus food for vulnerable communities. Comparable food bank redistribution model in a different emerging-market geography.

Regional players

• The Food Chain: UK charity delivering food to people with HIV and other serious illnesses, leveraging food surplus for nutrition support. Comparable charitable food redistribution model targeting vulnerable populations.

Others

• European Food Banks Federation (FEBA): Umbrella organisation representing European food banks that invited FoodCloud to a private Vatican audience. Provides sector-level comparison, partnership, and policy advocacy infrastructure relevant to FoodCloud's international expansion.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCQevxDsQOjtWd-8IxM8XXfA
• Facebookfacebook.com/foodcloudireland
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/foodcloud
• Instagraminstagram.com/foodcloud
• Xx.com/FoodCloud

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds6 records

Investors5 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Foodcloud