News How to Donate Food as a Hospitality or Food Retail Business Wollongong and Illawarra businesses, did you know that you have a powerful opportunity to turn your surplus stock or leftover food into real, local impact? Donating food instead of letting it end up in landfill is simple, practical, and genuinely good for your business, the planet, and the people in our community. If you’re a café, restaurant, grocer, producer, caterer, or food manufacturer wondering how food donation works (and whether it’s worth it), keep reading! Why donate food? Good for peopleAcross the Illawarra, food relief services are supporting individuals and families facing cost-of-living pressures, housing insecurity, and unexpected hardship. Donating surplus food helps ensure good-quality, nutritious food reaches people who need it most right here in our local community. Good for the planetFood waste is a major contributor to landfill emissions. By redistributing edible surplus food, your business actively reduces waste and lowers its environmental footprint. Good for your bottom lineDonating food can reduce disposal costs, streamline stock management, and support your business’s ESG and sustainability commitments. Many businesses also find it strengthens staff morale and customer trust because people like to support businesses that give back locally. What food can be donated? Fresh produce Bakery items Packaged foods close to best-before dates Prepared foods (where food safety requirements are met) Excess stock from events, catering, or over-ordering To make things easy, we’ve created a clear, practical food waste guide. Download the Guide to Food Waste for Businesses How our Illawarra Food Rescue & Relief project helps A program powered by Healthy Cities Australia and funded by EPA NSW, we work closely with a network of trusted local food relief and rescue partners across the region. Rather than you having to find a recipient organisation yourself, we can: Match your business with a suitable local food relief agency Coordinate regular or one-off donations Make the process as simple and low-effort as possible Whether you have a small, occasional surplus or regular donations available, we’ll help find the right fit. Join the Illawarra food donations WhatsApp group For businesses with very ad hoc or last-minute surplus, we also host a dedicated WhatsApp group. This allows staff, managers and owners at venues or food stores to quickly post when food is available, and for relief partners to respond in real time. It’s fast, flexible, and perfect for situations like: End-of-day café or bakery surplus Event or catering leftovers Unexpected excess stock Getting started is easy If you’re interested in donating food or just want to chat about how it could work for your business, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us at: foodfairness@healthycities.org.au.