Vantastec has supplied three state-of-the-art temperature-controlled vehicles to the South Wales branch of food charity Fareshare.
The delivery included two long-wheelbase VW Crafter fridge vans and one VW Crafter freezer van.
All vehicles were built on site at Vantastec’s Caerphilly headquarters and customised to meet Fareshare’s bespoke needs.
Members of the Vantastec team personally delivered the vans to the charity’s Cardiff headquarters. The vehicles will play a crucial role in safely transporting perishable surplus food from Fareshare Cymru’s warehouse to charities, community centres, and vulnerable communities across South Wales.
Vantastec’s Managing Director, Gareth Edwards, said:
“It’s an honour to once again assist Fareshare in their vital work combating food poverty and reducing food waste. We’ve long admired their efforts—the scale and impact of their operations are truly remarkable.
“As a proud Welsh business, we’re thrilled to contribute to such an important cause so close to home.”
Established in 1994, Fareshare is a UK-wide organisation dedicated to tackling food poverty and reducing food waste. By redistributing quality, in-date surplus food that would otherwise go to waste, the charity supports thousands of frontline organisations, including homeless shelters, refugee centres, and community hubs.
Fareshare Cymru is one of 25 distribution centres across the UK.
In 2023-24 they provided nearly 2 million meals to vulnerable people in South Wales, redistributing 824 tonnes of food from their Cardiff warehouse to local charities and community groups.
With the addition of these new vehicles, Fareshare Cymru can expand its reach and continue making a life-changing impact across the region.
Fareshare Cymru Chief Executive Officer, Sarah Germain, said:
“Since the beginning of this year, we've distributed 177 tonnes of surplus food to our network of 168 charities and community groups across South Wales.
“Our fleet of vans plays a crucial role in making this happen, not only by delivering food to people and communities but also by rescuing perfectly good food from ending up in landfills, which helps the planet.
“The addition of new vans will allow us to expand our services and reach more people in need. In Wales, one in five adults is facing poverty, and community spaces like the ones we partner with are lifelines for those unable to afford nutritious food.
“Working with Gareth and the team has been incredibly smooth from the start. They have been responsive and helpful, promptly addressing any questions or queries from myself and the rest of the team.
“We were all so impressed with how quickly and well the vans were completed.”
