Punch Pubs & Co has partnered with a hospitality charity to provide soup flasks to people sleeping rough in cities across the UK.
The pub company, which is based in Burton upon Trent, has supplied 5,280 portions of soup left over from a menu cycle change to support Only A Pavement Away’s Fill a Flask campaign.
The organisation is one of Punch’s strategic ESG partners and its campaign was started by providing flasks of coffee and water to homeless people.
Punch approached Only A Pavement Away to see if they could make use of their soups to avoid surplus waste.
Punch Pubs & Co Sustainability Specialist Jessica Nicklin said: “Punch’s most recent collaboration with Only A Pavement Away’s Fill a Flask campaign has unlocked a new way for us to combat waste and help those experiencing homelessness in society.
“It’s heartwarming to know we have provided many people with a healthy meal and supported fantastic charities across the UK.”
As part of its Punch Promise, the pub company has endeavoured to send zero waste to landfill by the end of 2028, or faster if possible.
Only A Pavement Away Founder and Chief Executive Greg Mangham said: “Over the five years we’ve been running Fill a Flask, the support of the hospitality industry has been key in being able to support those living on the streets and/or using hostels for support and their meals.
“Punch’s support has been amazing and has demonstrated how important their communities are to them by supplying 5,280 portions of soup across the country.
“This was a large-scale operation from coordinating with the charities to supplying and helping to distribute the soup nationwide alongside our hardworking volunteers.
This momentous activity shows how operators can work more closely with us at Only A Pavement Away to unite against homelessness and support more people facing homelessness back into employment within the hospitality industry.”
