The Bread and Butter Thing

What The Bread and Butter Thing does

The Bread and Butter Thing is a UK-registered charity (Charity No. 1169383) founded in 2016 in Manchester that operates a network of mobile food clubs to redistribute surplus food from major grocery retailers and food manufacturers to households facing sustained financial pressure. Members place orders via a text-message-based system two days before delivery and collect pre-bagged food (priced £5 for an individual bag, £8.50 for a standard three-bag set, and £17 for a six-bag family set) at one of 155 community hubs — typically community centres, church halls, or schools — with no referral, fee, or contract required.

The operational backbone is a vertically integrated surplus food supply chain: two warehouses with chilled and frozen storage (Eccles in Greater Manchester and Chilton in County Durham), TBBT's own refrigerated van fleet, and contracted logistics partners (DHL, DFDS, Fowler Welch, Freshlinc, Moran Logistics). Surplus is sourced from major UK retailers — Morrisons (since 2016), Tesco, Co-op, Sainsbury's, Aldi, Asda, Lidl, Waitrose, Iceland, Amazon, and Booths — and from manufacturers including Cranswick, Greencore, MS Foods, and Worldwide Fruit. The text-based ordering system is the only technology interface between the organization and its members; there is no consumer app or e-commerce site.

The business model blends four revenue streams: subsidised member contributions (pay-as-you-go, with Healthy Start vouchers accepted), local-authority grants to fund initial hub setup in new areas, philanthropic income from individuals, trusts and foundations (directed or unrestricted), and a tiered corporate partnership programme (Corporate Supporter, Corporate Partner, Strategic Partner) offering financial support, food supply, employee volunteering, and client engagement on multi-year contracts. Approximately 100,000 households across 34 local authorities are supported; in 2025 the organization redistributed 9,005 tonnes of food (equivalent to 21.4 million meals) and reported £132 million of independently-validated social value at a £19.07-per-£1-invested return. The organization employs 11–50 paid staff alongside more than 1,000 weekly volunteers, and is governed by a Board of Trustees with Will Bentley as Chair. Vic Harper is CEO (appointed April 2026 after leading Manchester City Council's pandemic food response); founder Mark Game departed to lead FoodCycle while remaining a Patron. Supporting products include the award-winning 'A Slice of Bread and Butter' podcast, the 'Slice of Life Report' and 'Breadline Brief' policy publications, the 'Social Value Report', and a community engagement initiative called 'Big Brew Time'.

Name

The Bread and Butter Thing

Legal name

The Bread and Butter Thing

Website

https://breadandbutterthing.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Bread and Butter Thing is a UK charity operating 155 community food clubs across 34 local authorities, redistributing surplus food from major retailers to approximately 100,000 households through £5–£17 subsidised weekly bags collected at local hubs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Food Redistribution Services

NAICS

Community Food Services (62421)

SIC

Retail-Food Stores (5400)

akta.pro primary industry

Buying Clubs & Community Bulk Purchasing Co-ops (CRAHALAE)

Keywords

• Surplus food redistribution
• Community food clubs
• Food waste prevention
• Affordable grocery
• Charity services

Headquarters

HQ city

Trafford Park

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Member contributions: Members pay subsidised prices for weekly food bags ranging from £5 to £17. Payment collected at hub collection via cash or card. Healthy Start vouchers also accepted.
2. Public funding - Local authorities: Local authorities fund initial hub setup costs to establish food clubs in their areas
3. Philanthropic funding: Financial support from individual philanthropists, trusts and foundations for growth, system strengthening, and absorbing external cost pressures. Can be directed or unrestricted.
4. Corporate partnerships: Tiered corporate partnership programme (Corporate Supporter, Corporate Partner, Strategic Partner) with financial support, food supply contributions, employee volunteering, and client engagement

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Bread and Butter Thing redistributes surplus food from major retailers and manufacturers to households under financial pressure through a network of community food clubs. Members join via text message with no referral, fee, or contract, order weekly bags of fruit and veg, chilled food, and cupboard staples for £5 to £17, and collect from one of 155 local hubs. The end-to-end operation covers surplus collection, sorting, labelling, repacking, and chilled/frozen transport into communities across England.

Product overview

The Bread and Butter Thing operates a single unified offering: an affordable food club model that redistributes surplus food from retailers and manufacturers to communities in need. The core product consists of tiered food bags (ranging from £5 individual to £17 family-sized) containing fruit & veg, chilled food, and cupboard staples. Supporting this core service are research publications (Slice of Life Report, Breadline Brief, Social Value Report), a podcast ('A Slice of Bread and Butter'), and community initiatives like Big Brew Time. The model is delivered through over 155 community hubs across 34 local authorities, requiring no referral or eligibility check.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Affordable Food Clubs / Mobile Food Clubs Core offering: low-cost weekly shopping bags containing surplus food from retailers and manufacturers, including fresh fruit and veg, chilled food, and cupboard staples. Delivered through community hubs in underserved areas, operating without referral requirements or eligibility criteria. Open to anyone with no contract, fee, or means testing.
• Food Bags (Tiered Pricing) Three bag options paid for at hub collection via cash or card: £5 individual mixed bag with fruit and veg, chilled food, and cupboard items; £8.50 standard set of three bags; £17 large family set of six bags with fruit and veg, chilled food, and cupboard staples. Healthy Start vouchers accepted. Prices vary weekly based on available surplus.

Quantifiable outcome

• 93% of members report saving money on food purchases
• +9 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

31 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2026Partnership to distribute phones to help tackle digital exclusion in communities across Greater Manchester. Phones provided as part of GMCA programme with distribution through TBBT hubs.
• MorrisonscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Since 2016, working with Morrisons to distribute surplus food from their manufacturing and retail operations. Partnership includes feedback on social impact.
• Sodexo UK & Ireland Stop Hunger FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partnership with Sodexo's Stop Hunger Foundation including trustee visits, grant funding to offset inflation for members, and volunteering support. Partnership includes episodes on the podcast discussing root causes of food insecurity.
• HubbubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental charity partnership working on digital inclusion and community engagement initiatives.
• Groundwork (Green Doctor)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnergy advice and support services delivered through TBBT hubs by Groundwork's Green Doctor programme. Helps members with energy bills, efficiency measures, and fuel vouchers.
• Yes Manchester CIOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployment support partnership delivering roadshows at TBBT sites to help unemployed and under-employed people access employment opportunities.
• Trafford Housing TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployment and Skills Service partnership delivering support through TBBT hubs. High referral rates achieved through hub-based presence.
• NHS Manchester Talking TherapiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health support partnership bringing talking therapies into TBBT hubs. Partnership recognised as effective model for accessible therapy delivery.
• Citizens AdvicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDebt advice services provided through TBBT support pages, helping members access financial guidance.
• StepChange Debt CharitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFree debt advice services referenced in support resources for members experiencing financial difficulty.
• TescocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor retailer supplying surplus food for redistribution through TBBT network.
• Co-opcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor retailer supplying surplus food for redistribution.
• Sainsbury'scoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor retailer supplying surplus food. Featured in Sainsbury's and Comic Relief vodcast featuring TBBT member James.
• AldicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor retailer supplying surplus food including seasonal produce like pumpkins.
• AmazoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmazon supplies over 200 tonnes of food annually including high-quality meat products, milk, and ready meals. Also provides non-food donations.
• AsdacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor retailer supplying surplus food.
• LidlcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor retailer supplying surplus food.
• WaitrosecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor retailer supplying surplus food.
• IcelandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor retailer supplying surplus frozen food.
• BoothscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional retailer supplying surplus food with long-standing redistribution partnership.
• CranswickcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood manufacturer with sustainability plans for zero edible food waste by 2030. TBBT is key redistribution partner taking all kinds of product from ingredients to finished goods.
• Worldwide Fruit LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational fruit marketing and distribution company supplying surplus produce from over 1000 growers worldwide.
• GreencorecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK's leading food manufacturer producing convenience products. Sustainability-focused partner with production units across UK.
• MS FoodscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood manufacturer supplying surplus products.
• DHLminorOthersLogistics partner for food transportation.
• DFDSminorOthersLogistics partner for food transportation.
• Fowler WelchminorOthersLogistics partner for food transportation.
• FreshlincminorOthersLogistics partner for food transportation.
• Moran LogisticsminorOthersLogistics partner for food transportation.
• Food FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Broken Plate podcast discussing food affordability and the real cost of eating well.
• National Endeavour partners (City Harvest, Community Shop, FareShare, The Felix Project, Feeding Britain, His Church, IGD, Neighbourly, Trussell, Xcess Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative initiative under Number 10 leadership to triple surplus food redistribution. TBBT worked alongside major redistribution organisations to shape shared approach.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The Felix Project: London-based food redistribution charity rescuing surplus food and delivering it to frontline charities, schools, and food banks. Same surplus-redistribution mission as TBBT, primarily serving the London region rather than the North of England.
• City Harvest: London-based food redistribution charity rescuing surplus food and delivering it free to over 130 community organisations serving those facing food poverty. Direct operational peer in the UK National Endeavour to End Avoidable Food Waste alongside TBBT.
• FareShare: UK's largest food redistribution charity, redistributing surplus food from the supply chain to over 8,500 frontline charities. Directly comparable to TBBT in mission and surplus-redistribution model, though FareShare operates B2B (to charities) while TBBT operates B2C through community hubs.
• FoodCycle: UK charity turning surplus food into free community meals while bringing people together to reduce food waste and loneliness. Shares TBBT's surplus-food and community-connection mission; notable overlap as TBBT's founder Mark Game became FoodCycle CEO in April 2026.
• Feeding Britain: UK anti-poverty charity working on affordable food, Holiday Hunger programmes, and food poverty policy. Listed alongside TBBT in the National Endeavour and shares TBBT's focus on systemic, prevention-focused approaches to food insecurity.
• His Church: UK food redistribution charity operating as part of the National Endeavour to End Avoidable Food Waste with TBBT. Comparable community-based surplus redistribution work though operating in different regional footprints.
• Trussell Trust: UK-wide network of over 1,400 food banks providing emergency food parcels to people in crisis. Addresses the same food insecurity need as TBBT, but via emergency food aid rather than TBBT's preventive community-club model; 12,400 TBBT members have reduced or stopped food bank use.
• Community Shop: Member-based affordable food stores operated by the Company Shop Group for families experiencing food insecurity. Closest commercial-format peer to TBBT's community food club model, though Community Shop operates fixed storefronts rather than mobile weekly hubs.

Emerging players

• OLIO: Mobile app for sharing surplus food between neighbours, businesses, and volunteers to reduce food waste. Tangentially comparable to TBBT's surplus-food mission, but operates peer-to-peer at household level rather than hub-based community redistribution.
• Neighbourly: UK tech platform connecting surplus food from retailers and manufacturers to local charities, including food banks and community organisations. Listed with TBBT in the National Endeavour; operates as an enabling technology layer for the same surplus-redistribution ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TeamTBBT
• Facebookfacebook.com/HG.TBBT
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-bread-and-butter-thing

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 The Bread and Butter Thing