- Tesco calls on food waste entrepreneurs to join its new crowdfunding platform, BackIt
CHESHUNT, England, 2016-Dec-01 — /EPR Retail News/ — Tesco appeals for food waste entrepreneurs to join new crowdfunding platform, BackIt. BackIt helps small businesses gain vital funding, in order to bring their food waste-busting products to market. Hannah McCollum, founder of ChicP, is the first food waste entrepreneur to join the platform, with her hummus made from wonky fruits and vegetables.
A new hummus, made from wasted vegetables is set to take the foodie scene by storm, thanks to its launch on Tesco’s new crowdfunding platform, BackIt.
ChicP is one of five small businesses currently being supported through the scheme which offers the chance to work with a large retailer and scale up ideas, as well as gain advice and from industry experts. The platform showcases new businesses and allows them to campaign for support from the public.
Londoner Hannah McCollum founded ChicP after seven years as a part-time private chef in her school holidays, cooking her way across Europe. A stint working for events and catering companies followed, and Hannah was exposed to the realities of how much perfectly edible food is wasted every single day.
Tesco is now appealing for other food waste entrepreneurs, like Hannah, to join the platform and gain funding for their product in a drive to help reduce food waste in the UK.
Michael Francis, Tesco Business Development Director said:
“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.”
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. It was the first retailer to publish third party assured food waste data.
Combining Hannah’s raw cooking talent with her love of food and passion to end food waste, ChicP is the latest addition to the hummus world, and Hannah, the newest and brightest food waste entrepreneur to hit the scene in 2016.
Supporting British farmers by using fruit and vegetables that would have otherwise gone to waste, ChicP 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 amongst those who want healthy, good food, without the waste.
Hannah 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!”
Hannah is seeking to raise £5,000 via BackIt to help grow ChicP further. Funding will enable her to create a great marketing campaign to help ChicP expand, increase sales and awareness.
To invest in ChicP, or to find out how you can get your own food waste busting business on to BackIt go to www.tesco.com/backit
Notes to editors
Businesses that sign up to BackIt are not obliged to list or work with Tesco after their campaign.
For more information about ChicP or for interview requests for Hannah please contact the Tesco media team on 01707 918 701
For further information about BackIt and discuss opportunities for your business please contact the BackIt team directly on backit@uk.tesco.com . Visit www.tesco.com/backit for terms and conditions and more information.
We are a team of 480,000 in 11 markets dedicated to serving shoppers a little better every day.
For more information please contact the Tesco Press Office on 01707 918 701
Source: Tesco
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