Xcess Network is delighted to welcome Social Enterprise Kent and Food in Community as the latest members of its growing independent food redistribution network, further strengthening its collective ability to rescue surplus food, support communities and reduce waste across the UK.
Xcess brings together organisations of different sizes and specialisms from across the surplus food sector, combining national reach, regional infrastructure and local expertise to unlock more good food for communities. Its members include redistributors, food rescue charities, social supermarkets, community food projects, education providers and sector specialists, all working through different routes to ensure surplus food reaches people who need it most.
Based on current member data, Xcess now brings together 13 organisations, nearly 1,900 supplier relationships, more than 4,500 community and partner routes, and over 23,000 tonnes of redistributed surplus food. Collectively, members operate more than 66,000 sq ft of warehouse space, a fleet of around 80 vehicles and a range of chilled, frozen, ambient and fresh produce storage capabilities, alongside specialist expertise in short-life food management, freezing, repacking and onward redistribution.
Social Enterprise Kent joins the network with four decades of experience working alongside people, businesses, charities and public sector partners to create practical, community-led solutions. Its work spans skills, education, employability, wellbeing, community engagement, social value and community food initiatives. Through its social supermarkets, the organisation provides accessible food alongside wider support, recognising that food connects to health, confidence, household finances, environmental sustainability and community resilience.
Food in Community brings specialist expertise in rescuing surplus fruit and vegetables, working closely with farms across the South West to recover organic and regeneratively grown produce at scale. The organisation redistributes food to charities, households and communities, ensuring nutritious produce reaches people rather than going to waste. Alongside significant investment in expanded processing and storage capacity, Food in Community has pioneered the food hub concept in the UK, combining food redistribution with community-led initiatives including pay-what-you-can dining, social gleaning, growing projects, workshops and food share groups.
Together, the two organisations add valuable new capabilities and regional connections to the Xcess Network, strengthening its ability to respond to surplus food opportunities and increase the amount of good food reaching communities across the country.
The addition of the two organisations reflects the continued growth of Xcess as a practical, collaborative ecosystem that combines shared expertise, infrastructure and community reach. By working together, members can unlock more surplus food, reduce waste and maximise the social value created through redistribution.