North's 'first food waste catering business' set for Manchester

RJFM is a non-profit project that takes unused food from supermarkets, wholesalers and other food businesses and turns it into healthy meals.

Its first ‘pay what you like’ restaurant opened in Manchester last year​ ​following a £20,000 crowdfunding campaign.

Now it is set to move in to outside catering, creating buffets, canapes and hot meals for businesses and organisations from September/October this year.

The scheme will be based out of a large commercial kitchen and run in partnership with local charities and a social housing provider, supplying meals to vulnerable people across Manchester.

It has been prompted by RJFM's wish to offer more structured volunteering and back to work support to a range of people.

“The volunteering opportunities we’ve been able to offer at the restaurant are social and engaging, and we’ve loved working with a huge range of people, but we feel like we can do more,” says project director Chris Haydon.

“Having spent a year with customers and volunteers from a massive range of backgrounds, we recognise that we’re in a position to offer people who have become marginalised more structured and significant opportunities to learn, train and work in hospitality.”

RJFM's existing restaurant will close at the end of August ahead of plans to move to a new location, details of which will be announced soon.