New partnership aims to help businesses get good food to people instead of reducing food waste while supporting more than 650 community organisations across Ireland.
Guaranteed Irish has announced a new strategic partnership with FoodCloud, bringing together two organisations committed to supporting Irish businesses, strengthening local communities and championing sustainability across Ireland.
The partnership reflects a shared commitment to helping businesses reduce food waste, supporting communities and contributing to a more circular economy. It will also support Guaranteed Irish members in navigating emerging sustainability opportunities and policy developments, including the implementation of the EU Waste Framework Directive.
Collectively, Guaranteed Irish members contribute €59.3 million annually in social value initiatives, supporting communities throughout Ireland through employment, volunteering, charitable initiatives and sustainable business practices.
FoodCloud is Ireland's leading food redistribution organisation, connecting businesses with surplus food to charities and community groups, ensuring perfectly good food reaches those who need it instead of going to waste. Since its foundation, FoodCloud has built a nationwide network that empowers more than 650 community organisations and 200 food businesses, helping charities reduce costs, support more people and strengthen local communities through access to quality surplus food.
Through the partnership, Guaranteed Irish and FoodCloud will work together to raise awareness of food redistribution, encourage greater participation from businesses across retail, hospitality, manufacturing and food production, and share practical guidance that enables organisations to reduce waste while delivering measurable social and environmental impact.
The partnership comes at an important time as Ireland prepares for the implementation of the revised EU Waste Framework Directive. The Directive aims to significantly reduce food waste by 2030, while encouraging greater food donation through structured agreements between businesses and food redistribution organisations. FoodCloud estimates that a coordinated national surplus food donation programme could save 20,000 tonnes of food annually, save 50,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions and provide the equivalent of 50 million meals each year.
Guaranteed Irish and FoodCloud are also proud SDG Champions, recognising their shared commitment to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through practical, business-led action.
Commenting on the partnership, Bríd O'Connell, CEO of Guaranteed Irish, said:
"Our partnership with FoodCloud brings together two organisations that believe successful businesses should also strengthen the communities they serve whilst working towards a new Food Waste Framework Directive with government. We would like to recommend to our members to work with FoodCloud to achieve a reduction in food waste whilst they progress on their ESG journey."
Angela Ruttledge, Head of Policy, FoodCloud, added:
"By sharing solutions, knowhow and expertise, this partnership with fellow SDG Champions Guaranteed Irish will enable more leading Irish and Irish-based businesses to create real impact in communities."
Many Guaranteed Irish members are already demonstrating leadership in this area. Ballymaloe Foods, a Guaranteed Irish member, has partnered with FoodCloud since 2016, redistributing more than 26.3 tonnes of surplus food — equivalent to 62,731 meals — while saving 6 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent emissions. Beyond food redistribution, Ballymaloe has also supported FoodCloud through fundraising, on-pack promotions and financial contributions, demonstrating how businesses can embed sustainability into their operations while supporting local communities.
As Irish businesses continue to embed sustainability into their operations, the new partnership aims to demonstrate that reducing food waste is not only an environmental imperative, but an opportunity to create lasting positive impact and strengthen local communities.
Guaranteed Irish, Supporting Business that Supports Ireland