Member Article

The Real Junk Food Project munches on success at Trinity Leeds

Leeds “local heroes”, The Real Junk Food Project has made a waves at Trinity Leeds this month as they finish up their term at Trinity Kitchen.

TRJFP and four street food vendors will all operate on a pay as you feel basis on their last day in Trinity Kitchen on Saturday 7 February, in a bid to completely eliminate food waste.

The Pay as You Feel policy is how The Real Junk Food Project cafe in Armley operates, and the way they have ran their pop up in Trinity Kitchen for the past month.

The fee for paellas, pasta and pie dishes are decided by the customer who are not obliged to pay anything, and many who can’t afford to pay anything often help out with the washing up and cleaning the windows at the café in Armley.

TRJFP, along with Mama’s Jerk Station, Nelly’s Barn, You Doughnut and Busan BBQ, have all been in Trinity Kitchen since 28 December and will be replaced by the following month’s vendors on Sunday 8 February.

The project collects quality food from restaurants and supermarkets across Leeds which would otherwise go to waste, and in the past ten months, the community cafe in Armley has already stopped 21.7 tonnes of food from going to waste.

TRJFP, founded by local chef Adam Smith, aims to reduce the incredible amount of food waste from businesses.

Twinned with the rising cost of living and the reliance on food banks nationally, the project has benefitted over 10,000 people across Leeds from all walks of life.

Conor Walsh, director of the project commented, “We’re really grateful to Trinity Kitchen for being so supportive to our cause throughout January.

“Not paying for our residence has really helped to raise the funds for our new premises.

“Aside from our cause, it’s fantastic to see that we have inspired other street vendors to reduce their food waste, which will go some way to reduce the problem of food wastage in the UK, and definitely in Leeds.”

Paul Smith, marketing manager for Trinity Leeds says, “The Real Junk Food Project has been an extremely welcome addition to our vendors for the past six weeks.

“We pride ourselves on the diversity of our vendors, but this concept is completely unlike anything we’ve ever offered before and it’s been extremely inspirational.

“It’s great to see all of the street food vendors come together for such a fantastic cause and we’re very proud to be a part of it.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .