SecondBite has opened the doors to its new warehouse in Morningside, Queensland. The facility enables the not-for-profit to further its mission to end food waste and end hunger in the state.
The increased size of the new facility means SecondBite can significantly scale-up its Queensland operations with double the internal floor space (1200m2) as well as extended chiller and freezer capacity.
During the last financial year, SecondBite rescued 6 million kgs or 12 million meals in Queensland. By moving to the new warehouse, it can now grow its food rescue efforts to 12 million kgs or 24 million meals.
The move and fit out has been made possible through $500,000 in Queensland Government funding as well as more than $500,000 worth of generous donations from the Charles and Cornelia Goode Foundation, Bowden Marstan Foundation and the Pavetta Foundation.
“We’re committed to working with growers, manufacturers and retailers to rescue quality, nutritious food and deliver it to Queenslanders who need it most,” said SecondBite CEO Daniel Morefield.
Morefield highlighted that with the number of food insecure Australian households going from one in five to one in three in the past year, the increased capacity of the new location couldn’t come at a better time and means the not-for-profit is poised to support the growing needs of Queenslanders as they do it tough in the cost-of-living crisis.
“We work with more than 227 charity partners in Queensland and this warehouse will service both metro and regional areas, helping to feed millions of hungry Queenslanders from as far as Mossman and Mt Isa in the north all the way to Burleigh Heads in the south,” said Moorfield.
The team of 12 employees are already working in the new digs. It is equipped with five fleet vehicles that are used to collect food from doners and bring it back to the warehouse where produce and other items are sorted and packed for more than 50 charity partners that come for collection each week.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Queensland Government as well as our charity partners and donors who have made this move possible.”
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“With just under 50 per cent of SecondBite’s Queensland stock coming through this warehouse site, their generosity means our operations are future-proofed to help connect the dots between the oversupply of food, and the Queenslanders who can’t afford to buy it,” said Moorfield.
The new warehouse location and fit-out has received funding from:
- Queensland Government – $491,639 (freezer and 14 pallet truck)
- Charles and Cornelia Goode Foundation – $338,241 (coolroom installation, modular buildings, signage, pallet racking, forklift)
- Bowden Marstan – $200,000 (lease costs)
- Pavetta Foundation – $12,500 (cool room and freezer temperature sensors, freezer ramp, food containers for Domestic Violence meal program and power upgrades)
The Minister for Employment and Small Business and Minister for Training and Skills, Local MP The Hon Dianne (Di) Farmer, officially opened the site and welcomed SecondBite to the area today. She said the funding provided by Queensland Government will flow through to help Queenslanders on the ground who are grappling to make ends meet.
“Having been involved in community organisations like Bulimba Meals on Wheels, I’ve seen first-hand the critical need of many in our community and the important work that goes into ensuring our most vulnerable are supported,” said The Hon Dianne Farmer MP.
“SecondBite was successful in securing funding in Round 2 of the Food Rescue Grant Program to be allocated to infrastructure, equipment and operational costs to divert additional food from landfill and redistribute it to Queenslanders in need.”