Real Junk Food Manchester hits crowdfunding goal

06-Jan-2017 - Last updated on 06-Jan-2017 at 16:39 GMT

A food waste restaurant headed up by a former Fat Duck chef is to open in Manchester after hitting its £20,000 crowdfunding target.

The Real Junk Food Manchester (RJFM) cooks using produce thrown away by supermarkets, suppliers and farms.

It hit its crowdfunding target with eight days to go with the backing of TV chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall.

Now the group is now hoping to raise up to £25,000 to offer free cookery lessons to low income local residents.

Writing on the crowdfunding page, Fearnley-Whittingstall said: “I’ve really enjoyed working with the Real Junk Food Project for my War on Waste documentaries for BBC1 - what they are doing is both brilliant at reducing food waste, and life-changing for those who support them, work with them and get to enjoy their excellent food.

“I’m proud to support it, and wish them every success.”

Future expansion

RJFM has been running as a pop-up across Manchester with former Aumbry and Fat Duck chef Mary-Ellen McTague heading up the kitchen since 2014.

Part of the funding will be used to create a mobile kitchen to allow RJFM to open anywhere with electricity and running water.

The team will run a six-month café near Manchester city centre while also hunting for their first permanent home.

The RJFM team said they felt like ‘the whole city’ of Manchester was behind them.

“Thank you so so so much for all of your support and energy,” the team wrote on the crowdfunding page. “We've got the best crowd a bin diving bunch of pirates could hope for!”

For more information on the RJFM’s campaign click here.