Norfolk-based fruit grower and ingredients company Place UK has announced it will continue to support community charity The Feed after raising £3,000 in 2025, as well as donating healthy produce to its cookery school. Here, those involved explain what it means
Place UK, one of the UK’s leading fruit growers and suppliers of individually frozen fruit, pulses, beans and grains, has supported The Feed since the start of 2024, and has pledged to renew this support into 2026. In 2025, Place UK, based in Tunstead near Wroxham, reached a significant £3,000 fundraising milestone, surpassing the £2,070 its team achieved in 2024. As a Friend of The Feed, Place UK pledges to raise at least £1,000 a year – the cost of supplying free fresh fruit and vegetables to members of The Feed’s Social Supermarket every month.
With 6.7% of Norfolk residents coping with malnutrition, a third higher than the average rate for England, The Feed’s Social Supermarket aims to reduce that figure by offering discounted food and everyday essentials, so everyone has the chance to eat and live well.
Melissa Clements, business development and marketing manager at Place UK, said: “As a leading grower of British berries and rhubarb, and a leading supplier of individually frozen beans, pulses, pasta and grains, we’re incredibly proud to be supplying our products to retailers, wholesalers, food manufacturers and restaurants across the UK, but we’re equally proud and focused on doing our part to help alleviate food poverty in the county we call home.
“The Feed offers an amazing and vital service, providing access to affordable groceries so everyone has the chance to eat well. Thanks to the efforts of our whole team, we’ve managed to beat our fundraising total from last year. This included a specific donation to cover the cost, in August, of The Feed’s free fruit and veg initiative, which meant all members of its Social Supermarket received a free bag of healthy fresh produce, every day that month.
“This is very much a long-term partnership, and we look forward to continuing our support of The Feed into 2026 – and breaking our record again – next year!”
As well as fundraising events including a Halloween bake sale, Place UK has given practical support to The Feed, helping to develop its catering range through sponsoring the charity’s new food trucks. Place UK also sponsored The Feed’s annual fundraiser, the Treasure Hunt, and pays the catering side of The Feed to supply refreshments for business meetings and staff events.
A leading grower, Place UK has also donated a range of excess stock, including frozen beans and pulses for The Feed’s cooking lessons, helping the charity’s members learn how to make budget-friendly, nutritious and well-balanced meals. While an on-site shop at Place UK in Tunstead, which sells fresh fruit to staff, diverts all profits to The Feed, giving the charity a continuous stream of funding.
Siobhan Eke, fundraising and marcomms lead at The Feed, added: “We absolutely love working with Place UK; their long-term support makes a real and invaluable difference to The Feed, our community and members. They support us in so many ways, and by raising vital funds, enable us to provide top-quality, free fresh fruit and veg to our community. They also donate fabulous top-quality produce our members love cooking with, and their donations provide our members with everything from pasta to special treats and toiletries – all the things many of us take for granted but make a meaningful difference to our community on so many levels.
“We honestly couldn’t be happier that Place UK are continuing their partnership with us into 2026. Watch this space for some innovative, new The Feed and Place UK ‘foodie’ initiatives, which continue to help our community eat well, live well, and be connected.”
Featured image of Melissa Clements of Place UK with Social Supermarket volunteer Eleanor Copeland and other images supplied by Plain Speaking PR
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