The crowdfunding platform – BackIt – has been launched by Tesco in order to promote projects which will eliminate food waste across the supply chain.
The platform is designed to help small businesses gain the public funding they need in order to bring their ideas to the market.
Hannah McCollum, founder of ChicP – a business which produces hummus from ‘wonky’ raw surplus vegatables – has become the first entrepreneur to join the scheme. According to the ChicP website, the inspiration behind the company was ‘the overriding determination and passion to change the way we approach cooking and food waste’.
ChicP is one of five small buisnesses currently being supported by BackIt, with others including PaPa Spice, Angus & Oink, and Fries Guys Loaded Fries Sauce.
Advice
By signing up to BackIt, Ms McCollum can attempt to scale up her business model, as well as gain advice from industry experts.
Her hummus is already stocked in Local London delicatessens including Sonny’s Kitchen, Krystal’s Fulham, and the Rude Health Café. ChicP is building a ‘cult following’ according to Tesco amongst those who want healthy, good food, without the waste.
Ms McCollum, who is seeking to raise £5,000 via BackIt, said: “I hate wasting food, and I know I’m not the only one. Creating ChicP has enabled me to combine my desire to reduce food waste with being able to produce delicious, healthy hummus.
“I can’t wait to see where my business goes from here and hope that other people who want to help stop food waste come forward and turn their food waste busting dreams, into tomorrow’s solutions.”
Commitment
Tesco has committed that no food that is safe for human consumption will go to waste in its UK stores by the end of 2017.
Michael Francis, Tesco business development director, added: “We are really excited to welcome ChicP to BackIt and to offer people the chance to support an innovative and brilliant food waste solving business. Food waste is something that Tesco takes very seriously and is an issue that we have a responsibility to work together to solve. It’s businesses like ChicP that will help us do just that.
“We are now looking for other brilliant food waste businesses to come forward and help us fight food waste. There’s room for many more on the platform and the BackIt team can offer you the help and support you need to bring your product to life.”
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