The meeting, held on Monday 23rd January, agreed a set of actions to help the sector reduce its 1.1 million tonne food waste footprint.

The Ambassadors renewed their commitment to tackling food waste by releasing a joint statement: "As Guardians of Grub ambassadors, we recognise the urgent need to act now to reduce costs in hospitality and food service by tackling food waste. We are committed to helping those in our sector reduce both the financial costs associated with food waste and the environmental cost of wasting food.  

“Only by working together can we accelerate the pace of change across the sector, and we call upon everyone to try the Guardians of Grub Cost Saving Skills Course and the free tools to help protect your profits, and our planet, by reducing food waste together.”

Food waste costs the hospitality and food service sector an estimated £3.2 billion every year, with one kilogram of wasted food producing three times its own weight in harmful greenhouse gases.

The ambassadors attending included Andrea Zick, Alex Hall, Nick Vadis, Phil Shelley, Abbey Short, Vince Kelly, Mark Belford on behalf of Paul Mannering, Pete Redman, Peter Cross and Mike Hanson. Public sector specialist Andy Jones and former LACA chair Jacquie Blake were unable to attend the event.

Emma McCLarkin joins as an ambassador, with UKHospitality becoming an official supporting partner. WRAP is encouraging more high-profile sector influencers to contact the environmental organisation to join their ranks.

Eleanor Morris, senior sector specialist for hospitality and food service at WRAP, added: “Food waste is a massive cost issue at a time of great challenge for the sector, here and in other countries. Look out for the Guardians of Grub throughout 2023 as we work to engage more of the sector in reducing food waste. You can next see us during Food Waste Action Week, which this year runs between 6-12 March 2023.”