Food redistribution in Germany : implementation and influencing factors - An empirical study based on "Tafel" food banks in Lower Saxony

In Germany, large amounts of food are wasted, while at the same time many people are affected by food poverty. Food distribution is one possible way to mitigate both of these issues. To date, there has been a lack of reliable data that would allow conclusions to be drawn about the processes behind food redistribution and the factors that contribute to its success. This article presents some initial results on how food distribution processes are currently organized, the associated challenges and the factors influencing food distribution, based on “Tafel” food banks in Lower Saxony. The article particularly focuses on legal issues as a potentially limiting factor. One important legal aspect is the way Tafel food banks are currently categorized: as food businesses – with all the requirements that this categorization implies. Therefore, the focus of this article is not assessing the quality of the donated food, but rather examining the processes behind food redistribution. The qualitative data was collected using a mixed methods approach. In order to ensure that food redistribution remains viable in the future, it is necessary to tap into new potential sources of donations all along the value chain. One way of doing this would be to take a closer look at previously untapped sources of donations, such as catering outside the home, or underutilized sources, such as primary production. However, above all, the article argues that changing the way legal issues are handled will be key to increasing the amount of food that can be donated. It shows that the processes used by the various Tafel food banks are very heterogeneous, which means that tailored solutions are required.