The Felix Project
Every day in the UK, millions of people struggle to afford nutritious food, while high‑quality surplus produce goes to waste. The Felix Project exists to bridge that gap – saving food that cannot be sold and redistributing it to charities across London that provide hot meals, school food, and vital support to people most in need.
Fortnum & Mason has proudly partnered with The Felix Project since 2016. What began at the very start of the charity’s journey has grown into a long‑standing, embedded partnership, built on shared values around food, sustainability and community. This is not a one‑off initiative, but a commitment that runs through the year and across our business.
Founded by Justin Byam Shaw in memory of his son Felix, The Felix Project launched in March 2016 with one small depot, one van and one employee. Reflecting on the early days, Justin has said: "Fortnum & Mason has been with Felix from the very start, supporting us with amazing surplus food and funding."
Surplus food from Fortnum’s Piccadilly store and restaurants is regularly collected by The Felix Project and redistributed to charities working across London. Using The Felix Project’s standard methodology, impact is measured in meal equivalents. In the 2025 calendar year alone, 4,844kg of surplus food was redistributed, which equated to 11,533 meals for Londoners experiencing food insecurity.
Today, The Felix Project supports a vast network of schools, food banks, social kitchens, emergency food hubs and community organisations, helping to ensure that good food reaches those who need it most.
Colleague volunteering is a core pillar of Fortnum's support for The Felix Project. Throughout the year, colleagues from Retail, Hospitality and Head Office contribute hundreds of volunteering hours, including sorting and packing food in Felix depots and warehouses, supporting Felix kitchens, and taking part in the Felix Farm Project in Kent, harvesting surplus fruit to prevent waste.
These experiences not only support Felix’s vital operations, but also connect our teams directly with the impact of the partnership – sometimes even from behind the wheel of a Fortnum’s van. While our support continues year‑round, we also come together around seasonal and campaign‑based moments, including Joy of Giving in September, spotlighting volunteering and charity support, seasonal harvest volunteering, tying closely to our passion for food and produce, and Christmas Eve in‑store collections, when customers and colleagues help make the festive season brighter for others.
With thousands of volunteers, multiple depots, a central London operation and a large delivery fleet, The Felix Project plays a crucial role in London’s food ecosystem. Its work supports children and families in deprived areas, alongside elderly people, refugees and those experiencing homelessness – creating a sense of community as well as access to food.
