REAL Junk Food Manchester is set for another first. In September 2018 the social enterprise will open the North’s first ever waste food catering business. The new, larger (and still non-profit) operation will use food that would otherwise go to waste to provide catering and meals for a huge range of people, businesses and organisations.
It is a real step forward just a year after RJFM opened the UK’s first waste food pay-as-you-feel restaurant on Oxford Street in the city centre. Initially set up as a short term pop-up with assistance from property developers Bruntwood, its popularity led to a doubling in size of its operation. Now they are moving on.
Founder and director, Corin Bell told us: “The year that we have spent running the restaurant has been amazing. A huge social and economic experiment that we have learned so much from. We’ve been astounded by the welcome that we’ve received locally, and we’re beyond proud of the sense of community and inclusion that we’ve created. What we want to do now is take everything we’ve learned, and do more.”
The new RJFM operation will offer commercial outside catering, including buffets, canapés and hot meals and will also supply meals to vulnerable people across the city through partnerships with local charity and public sector groups. T
The project will be sited in a large commercial kitchen, and is part of a new partnership with a local social housing provider. The move is also prompted by the organisation’s wish to offer more structured and significant volunteering and back to work
support to a range of people.
Plans are for a replacement cafe/waste food lunch spot available to the public – following on from an original premise of their 2017 Crowdfunder campaign.
Corin Bell said: “Everything that came out of that – all of the equipment, furniture, decor, will be coming with us to a new home. The whole ethos of our project is about
reducing waste, and we build the restaurant with the idea in mind that we might have to move from one location to another. We’re excited about the idea of setting up somewhere new.”
The Oxford Street Cafe is expected to close at the end of August.Meanwhile it continues to offer regular ‘pay what yoi feel’ fine dining Supper Clubs. Cheek them out here. The next Guest Chef Evening (Saturday, July 21) features the excellent Drunken Butcher Iain Devine, taking on the Real Junk Food Challenge.