The UK pet food industry is being called on to get behind an ongoing initiative to support pet owners struggling to afford everyday essentials by donating their surplus food.
The ‘No Empty Bowls’ programme, a collaborative initiative led by Battersea and FareShare (joining forces with the Felix Project) and backed by trade association UK Pet Food, redistributes surplus pet food from manufacturers to a nationwide network of charities and community groups, helping ensure pets can remain with the people who love and care for them.
The scheme has so far delivered over 1.6 million meals to pets in need and is supported by suppliers including Lily’s Kitchen, Fish4Pets, Rolf C Hagen, Inspired Pet Nutrition, Denzel’s, and Burgess Pet Care. UK Pet Food is now encouraging manufacturers of all sizes to take part and support the continued growth of the initiative.
Deputy chief executive Nicole Paley said: “For many people, pets are family. But for some households, rising everyday costs are making it increasingly difficult to keep up with the basics, including feeding their pets.”
Sophie Orpen at FareShare added: “The process is designed to be simple and efficient, with surplus stock removed at no cost, swift, straightforward logistics, and clear reporting on the impact of donations. Alongside this, companies can be confident that perfectly good product is being put to good use, delivering real social impact.”
Donations can be arranged through this link //fareshare.org.uk/giving-food, referencing “No Empty Bowls” in additional information.
For further information, questions can be sent to: [email protected]
