When you think of a logistics company, your mind might wander to trucks, warehouses, and a lot of paperwork. But
Kaibosh isn’t your ordinary logistics operation; “We are a logistics company with a heart”, as their Chief Executive/Kaiārahi, Susie Robertson, proudly puts it. For 16 years, Kaibosh has been on a mission to reduce food waste and get quality kai to those who need it most. And, if their stats are anything to go by, they’ve been doing a stellar job.
“We are an incorporated charitable trust. We provide the trucks, the drivers, the volunteers, and the hubs to safely sort and store food and get it out to those who need it most in our community,” Susie explains. But Kaibosh does more than just move food from point A to point B, they’re fostering community connections, hosting charity breakfasts, and opening their doors to anyone keen to start a food rescue initiative elsewhere in Aotearoa.
A Snapshot of Kaibosh’s Impact
Since its humble beginnings, Kaibosh has redistributed a whopping 4.4 million kgs of food. That’s over 12.5 million meals worth that would have otherwise gone to waste, and in the process, they’ve slashed CO2 emissions by nearly 11.7 million kgs. Just last year alone, they rescued 760,337 kgs of food, providing over 2.1 million meals worth of kai and cutting down CO2 emissions by 2 million kgs.
But for Kaibosh, it’s not just about the numbers. “We strongly believe there’s enough food in Aotearoa to feed everyone,” says Susie, “but a lot of it is still going to waste.” To combat this, Kaibosh has been working on a plan to get food directly from growers, with a couple of orchards in Kāpiti already donating tonnes of fruit. “This project is in its infancy,” Susie notes, “but expect to hear more about it soon.”
The Challenge of Growing Need
Despite their successes, Kaibosh faces some significant challenges. The 140 charity groups they work with are reporting increased demand, with more individuals and whānau needing support. And while the need for food is growing, the amount of food they’re receiving from regular donors has remained steady. “We’ve been busy putting time and resources into finding new sources of food,” Susie shares. This has led to the opening of the Kaibosh Kitchen in Pito-one, where Coordinator Ange Holtslag and her team of volunteers are cooking up soups, preserves, and other goodies, aiming to make an extra 300 meals worth of food each week.
Building Long-Lasting Relationships
Robust and transparent reporting is critical for the trust, not only to remain compliant with regulatory frameworks, but also to provide the confidence for donors that donations and funds are being used as they should.
Andrew Steel, Partner at Moore Markhams Wellington Audit, has been assisting Susie with her audit requirements, to ensure the ongoing integrity of reporting and internal processes. “We provide an effective, efficient audit process, utilising benchmarking and offering best practice insights through our considerable market presence. We are proud to partner with and support Kaibosh so they can focus on the great work they are doing for our communities.”
The Road Ahead
Looking to the future, Kaibosh is gearing up for a challenging few years. Government funding is set to finish in 2025, and many trusts will be unable to offer the same levels of support or multi-year grants. “Times are pretty tough in the funding world,” Susie admits. To bridge the gap, Kaibosh might be doing a bit more ‘bucket shaking’ in the next year or so.
But it’s not all doom and gloom. Kaibosh remains hopeful and resilient, with a strong belief in their mission. They’re continuing to explore new avenues for food rescue and are committed to making sure that the food Aotearoa produces ends up on plates rather than in landfill. “We’ve still got a lot of work to do, but we’re up for the challenge,” says Susie.
So, next time you see a Kaibosh truck out and about, remember - they’re not just delivering food, they’re delivering hope. And that’s something we can all get behind.
You can check out Kaibosh Food Rescue by clicking
here.