scotland's first rescued food shop!
🏢 22 Bread Street, EH3 9AF
🕐 11am to 2pm Monday to Saturday during Lockdown
What We Do
The Food Sharing Hub is Scotland’s first rescued food shop and exists to save surplus food from supermarkets from an unnecessary fate in the bin.
It’s open for everyone. Simply come along to the Food Sharing Hub. Fill a basket with food and pay as you feel.
We’re open 11am to 2pm Monday to Saturday During Lockdown
How it works
The Food Sharing Hub is working with a host of local supermarkets via Fareshare and Neighbourly to rescue surplus food that might otherwise end up in landfill. We get a lot of fresh produce - fruits and vegetables, as well as bread and baked goods that are still tasty and safe to eat past their ‘best before’. We also get seasonal products that shops need to clear away, dented tins, cut flowers and all sorts of surprises.
We use cargo bikes wherever possible to collect food and to distribute it to partner organisations. While we have two cargo bikes ourselves we also work with [Cargo Bike Movement]() and their fleet of bikes. In the evenings [Refugee Community Kitchen Edinburgh]() help to sort and organise the incoming stock - some of which they take to turn into tasty chutneys, jams and preserves
Food Sharing Edinburgh also coordinates a network of food collections from small businesses and redistribute it to charities across the cit
Our Impact
We are currently saving an average of 1.28 tonnes of food through the food sharing hub per month - that’s a saving of 6.06 tonnes of carbon equivalent.
Food Sharing Edinburgh has saved 48.9 tonnes of food in total between Dec 2017 and June 2019. Much of this is redistributed from small businesses directly to charity partners.
Each year, one-third of all food produced for human consumption worldwide goes to waste. This is approximately 1.3 billion tonnes. (FAO, 2019)
In central Edinburgh, 27.1 tonnes of food goes to waste every week - that’s the equivalent of roughly 54,000 meals unnecessarily thrown in the bin. (Zero Waste Edinburgh, 2017)
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be a member to use the Food Sharing Hub?
No
Is Zero Waste Hub accessible?
The Zero Waste Hub is on ground floor with a small step at the entrance. A ramp is available, just ring the bell and one of our volunteers will happily assist you. All the public spaces throughout the building are step free and there is an accessible toilet with hand rails.
There are disabled parking bays on both parallel streets, East Fountainbridge and Grindlay Street.
All our toilets are gender neutral.
If you have further questions regarding accessibility, please contact the Zero Waste Hub on 0131 281 0583.
Is there nearby bicycle parking?
There is space to lock up your bike on the corner of Lothian Road and Bread Street by Cost Cutters.
What bus routes are you on?
The Zero Waste Hub is located just off Lothian Road and Grassmarket and following bus routes will take you nearby;
Lothian Road routes: 47, 24, 10, 11, 15, 16, 36, 1, 34, 124
Grassmarket route: 2
Is there parking nearby?
There is limited on street parking on Bread Street, but two large car parks a 4 minute walk away;
Thistle Parking
Semple Street, Edinburgh, EH3 8BL
NCP Car Park Edinburgh Castle Terrace
Castle Terrace, Edinburgh, EH1 2E
Latest News
Inspiring recipes using common Foodsharing finds
Shaking up your weekly meal planning!
🕐 23/02/21 👤 Fergus Whyte
Funding Update
We've been awarded a new grant!
🕐 27/01/21 👤 SHRUB Coop
Zero Waste Hub Lockdown Opening Times
Food Sharing Opening Times
🕐 22/01/21 👤 SHRUB Coop
Upcoming Events
Food Sharing Warm Welcome
Find out more about volunteering to rescue food
🕐 Wednesday, April 14, 2021
🏢 Online (read the description for the link)
Food Sharing Warm Welcome -2
Find out more about volunteering to rescue food
🕐 Friday, April 16, 2021
🏢 Online (read the description for the link)
