Sustainability Column - Oxford Food Hub at The Royal International Air Tattoo
- 1st Oct 2025
This summer, the Oxford Food Hub team have partnered with the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) to ensure that surplus food from traders didn’t end up in landfill, but instead found its way to people who need it most.
In total, 691.95 tonnes of food were collected from RIAT’s food vendors That surplus was redistributed to more than 230 local charities, schools, nurseries, and community groups, including organisations such as Witney Food Revolution, who provide food to around 200 people each week in the Witney area.
Spencer Lawes, Food Sourcing Manager at Oxford Food Hub said: “We were thrilled when Royal International Air Tattoo reached out to us. Briony and the sustainability team have been passionate about reducing food waste at the event for a number of years now, and enlisting Oxford Food Hub to collect vendor surplus was the next step in their journey to zero food waste.”
Events like the Royal International Air Tattoo demonstrate exactly why Oxford Food Hub exists. For food traders, predicting demand is a challenge – weather, location, and even on the day chance can all influence how much is sold. Surplus is almost inevitable, but with Oxford Food Hub’s intervention, it can be redirected to tackle real needs in communities across Oxfordshire.
One such charity organisation is North Oxfordshire Community Foodbank. They said: “The Friday input of fresh food from the Oxford Food Hub to us in Kidlington is invaluable, as it adds choice and variety to the food parcels we supply. For people to be able to choose from what you supply us with to use for themselves is so supportive in the community. It would be a huge loss to us if we did not have their support.”
From supporting families facing food poverty, to helping groups that work on homelessness, mental health, and social isolation, our partnership demonstrates the power of collaboration. What might have once gone to waste has instead become a resource that strengthens communities and reduces environmental impact.
As Oxford Food Hub looks ahead, sharing the stories of the organisations who benefit from these donations will be a central part of their sustainability journey – showing not only how food is saved, but also the difference it makes in people’s lives. For more information and to donate to Oxford Food Hub, visit www.oxfordfoodhub.org.
