Continuing the Partnership Against Food Poverty and Food Waste

Kavli Trust is extending its support to Skåne Stadsmission and their work tackling food poverty and reducing food waste. With just over SEK 900,000, Stadsmissionen will be able both to expand existing operations and create new services.

Yvonne Sundmann and Anders Sverke are among the volunteers who help ensure that Skåne Stadsmission can run services such as Matmissionen. Once a week, they assist customers and carry out practical tasks in the store.

“We are both retired, and we’re happy to contribute to the valuable work that Stadsmissionen does,” says Yvonne. Her husband nods in agreement:

“It feels meaningful to be able to give our time,” says Anders.

With support from Kavli Trust, Skåne Stadsmission is now set to further expand its operations. The new grant will allow them to develop existing services and increase distribution capacity across Skåne.

“We are also planning a new Matmission in Helsingborg,” explains Alireza Mobasheri, regional manager at Stadsmissionen.

Since 2018, Kavli Trust has supported the development of a network of food centres that redistribute surplus food in Skåne, contributing around SEK 3 million.

“In addition, the operations of the food centre and Matmissionen have made it possible to provide daily work training for 12–15 people. With guidance from mentors and job coaches, they can take important steps towards paid employment. Supporting individuals in this way, alongside combating food poverty and reducing food waste, forms the three pillars of our work in managing surplus food,” says Mobasheri.

New Grant at a Time of Economic Difficulty

Kavli Trust has now awarded Skåne Stadsmission a further SEK 917,000 to develop the distribution system in Skåne and establish a new Matmission in Helsingborg. At a time of rising need in Sweden, this support is especially important.

“Eating is a human right. No one should go hungry or suffer from food poverty simply because the economy is weak. Thanks to support from Kavli, we can now help more people, many of whom are families with children,” says Mobasheri.

Rising Food Poverty and Significant Food Waste

According to Statistics Sweden, 14.4% of Malmö’s population and 9.7% of Helsingborg’s residents are financially disadvantaged – meaning they have such low income or benefits that they cannot cover basic needs such as food, rent, and clothing.

Since summer 2022, Skåne Stadsmission has also seen a 40% increase in visitors to its services.

At the same time, large quantities of food are being wasted. The project therefore has a dual aim: to reach more people in need while increasing the food centre’s distribution capacity by 400 tonnes of surplus food in 2023. The goal is to handle 1,000 tonnes annually by 2023.

Mobasheri explains:

“While Malmö is Sweden’s poorest major city, large amounts of food are being thrown away in Skåne. This can be due to overproduction, logistical errors, or simply short use-by dates.”

Makes a Positive Difference

Through the food centre, surplus food is redistributed to the Matmissionen stores in Malmö and Helsingborg, to Skåne Stadsmission’s social services, and to other non-profit organisations involved in food distribution across the region.

Kavli Trust regards the people working at Stadsmissionen as key drivers of change.

“It is a skilled and committed team working systematically to reduce food waste and help people out of food poverty,” says Guro Hjetland Sundsby, Grant Manager at Kavli Trust.

A Valuable Partnership

Over several years, Kavli Trust has developed a strong relationship with Stadsmissionen both at central and regional level. The foundation is a key supporter in the development of Stadsmissionen’s food centres across Sweden.

This initiative is part of Kavli Trust’s strategy to promote effective solutions for responsible consumption and production, while also providing support to those who need it most.

Since 2012, Kavli Trust has been a central player in establishing and developing the first large network of food centres in Norway.

“It is both exciting and rewarding to help develop and expand this successful concept in Sweden as well,” says Sundsby. She praises Skåne Stadsmission for their progress, hitting new milestones throughout the multi-year partnership.

“At a time of recurring crises, we see that their operations play an important role. The need for the support they provide is growing,” she continues.

Sundsbys also emphasises the importance of giving back to the local community where Kavli has production facilities.

“Kavli Sweden is an important part of creating value for good causes within the Kavli Group, and we are pleased to contribute to positive solutions for the local community surrounding Kavli Sweden’s factory in Eslöv.”

Reducing Food Waste, Helping More People, and Creating Job Opportunities

Alireza Mobasheri shares Sundsby’s view on the value of the partnership.

“The support we receive from Kavli Trust has made it possible for us to expand the capacity of our food centre, allowing us to receive even larger quantities of food for all the people we help daily. It has also enabled us to take on more members at Matmissionen, our social food store in Malmö,” he says.

“In addition, it has helped with the ongoing establishment of a Matmission in Helsingborg. These are crucial services at a time when inflation is high and food prices are at record levels,” Mobasheri adds.

“At the same time, there will be more opportunities for work training, and we can offer employment to people who are currently far from the labour market. This allows us to support these individuals on their journey towards taking ownership of their own lives,” he concludes.