Each year, New Zealanders collectively waste around $1.17 billion on food that’s bought but never eaten. Even before reaching our shelves, 20–40% of fresh fruit and vegetables are discarded because they don’t meet consumer standards. Over 100,000 tonnes of perfectly edible food go to waste annually; that's equivalent to $1,510 per household, according to the Kantar New Zealand Food Waste Survey. Beyond the cost, this waste reflects the resources, energy, and greenhouse gas emissions involved in food production.
Since 2017, Nourished for Nil (N4N) has been tackling this issue head-on, transforming food waste into a valuable resource for communities across the Hawkes Bay. By rescuing surplus food from donors and redistributing it to those in need, N4N ensures good food doesn’t go to waste. This service also enables supermarkets and food manufacturers to meet their own waste reduction targets.
Founded by Christina McBeth, N4N provides two critical services:
1. Rescue and redistribution
Collection of surplus food from cafés, restaurants, supermarkets, and manufacturers, diverting it from landfill to the community. The Free Store is open to everyone—no questions asked.
2. Affordable food options
By purchasing wholesale, N4N can offer discounted items at the Social Supermarket and provide donations through its food bank programme, supporting individuals and families that have been referred by social agencies.
Building a sustainable future
Initially funded by government support and donations, N4N faced a turning point when central government funding was halted. This challenge spurred the organisation to seek a sustainable financial model that would support its long-term viability.
The Deloitte Sustainability and Climate team, supported N4N through the Impact Accelerator – a programme dedicated to empowering purpose-led organisations in Aotearoa, connecting them with professional services and mentorship from the wider Deloitte community.
As part of Deloitte's WorldImpact initiatives, the Impact Accelerator is focused on addressing society's challenges and promoting a more sustainable and equitable world, by supporting purpose-led organisations through the provision of pro bono services.
Demonstrating goodwill
In close collaboration with N4N, Deloitte’s Sustainability and Climate team conducted a Sustainable Return on Investment (SROI) analysis, which leverages frameworks from the UN Development Programme. This analysis not only demonstrated the significant social impact of N4N’s services but also helped secure a pathway toward financial independence.
Specifically, Deloitte adopted the UN Development Programme’s SROI framework and sensitivity analysis methodology, the SROI Network’s Accounting for Value, and Social Value International’s principles of value.
The 5-step SROI approach:
1. Focus areas (‘stakeholder groups’)
The team identified the key groups that are impacted by N4N’s activities.
2. Mapping benefits
Benefits were identified and aligned to each stakeholder group.
3. Materiality analysis
We confirmed, through materiality analysis, the benefits that yield the greatest social returns for each stakeholder group.
4. Measuring value
Metrics were developed using the Theory of Change methodology to quantify N4N’s activities in financial terms.
5. Calculating SROI
Social returns were calculated for every dollar invested - deadweight and drop-off estimates were applied to remove bias.
The results
The analysis revealed that for every $1.00 invested, N4N generates $8.80 in social value. This figure underscores the transformative impact of their work and the vital importance of continued funding and financial resilience.
Small actions, like rescuing a meal from being wasted, can create an immense ripple effect. By building a sustainable financial framework, N4N is ensuring that surplus food can continue to serve a purpose, feed communities, and reduce environmental damage.