January 2023 update

Finally, after the Coronavirus pandemic brought the world to a halt and put the restaurant industry through the wringer for a few years, we were able to get back on track with our work with our charity partner Plump’d towards the end of 2022, helping fund a shipment of 150 cartons (2,070 kilograms) of Plumpy’Nut to Somalia in January 2023, at a time when East Africa was on the brink of famine.

To quote our friends at Plump’d: “After four failed rainy seasons, millions of children in Somalia were going hungry. Children under the age of five were hit especially hard by the drought and its intersection with fighting, displacement, acute drinking water shortages, and soaring global food prices. Our donation is being distributed within the community by local healthcare professionals committed to ending child hunger.”

We couldn’t be more hyped to be writing another update on the other side of COVID. Need Street Food is a hospitality business, and for a while, we thought the pandemic might shutter us for good.

But with the support of the hundreds of people who ordered from us while we were all locked down, we made it through, and can continue our vital mission to feed you and those in need around the world.

Much love 🍔💛🌍

December 2020 Update

Your thousands of orders over the last 18 months have directly supported our next shipment of nutrient-rich ‘Plumpy’Sup’ food packets to Ethiopia. We heard from our charity partner Plump’d that the package was cleared on 25th December. That message from Plump’d really was the best possible gift to wake up to on Christmas morning. With all the logistical and financial hurdles 2020 has put in our path, it’s been a while since we’ve been able to organise and announce a new shipment.

Our online audience has grown quite a bit this year, so you might be surprised to learn that, when you buy a meal from us, you’re also gifting life-saving food to children and mothers in need elsewhere around the world. It’s exciting to once again be shouting about the lives you’re helping us save!

We’re now at well over 100,000 packets of life-saving food sent overseas. The first few shipments primarily comprised packets of Plumpy’Nut: a nutrient-enriched peanut paste used to treat emergency malnutrition cases. It contains essential fats, carbohydrates, and proteins, as well as added vitamins and minerals.

Plumpy‘Nut can alleviate a starving child from impending illness or death. It has a shelf life of 18 months and requires no preparation to use.

Later shipments included packets of Plumpy‘Mum, a ready-to-use supplement which treats acute malnutrition in pregnant and lactating women, thus aiding the development of their children. This most recent distribution to Ethiopia includes Plumpy‘Sup, designed to treat children from the age of six months and up.

Before the pandemic, we’d begun regularly serving at street food markets in London, at independent breweries across the south, and at more and more festivals as far afield as Cardiff. When we went delivery-only in the face of lockdowns and uncertain tier changes, we were initially worried how our relief efforts would be impacted.

But people have been brilliant in supporting the independent restaurant scene here in Southsea. We couldn’t have done this without the support of our amazing customers, for whom we have endless gratitude 🍔💛🌍

Need Street Food Plump’Nut Plump’d Yemen

October 2019 Update

We, with our charity partner Plump'd, are set to dispatch our next shipment of life-saving malnutrition-fighting Plumpy’Nut packets to children in need overseas — wholly funded by the meals you eat with us at The Test Kitchen in The Merchant House and on the streets at events in London and across the UK.

This new donation will be used to cover shortages in northern governorates of Yemen, a country where more than 80% of the population is in need of humanitarian assistance.

There are around 24 health facilities which the IRC (International Rescue Committee) are supporting using these supplies. Plumpy’Nut will be used to treat cases of severe acute malnutrition in Yemen.

The IRC will work through the identified health facilities to ensure that infants and children receive timely and effective treatment for acute malnutrition. Through this donation, children aged under five years will receive protection and treatment for malnutrition.

December 2018 update

Last month (see our November 2018 update below), we announced a dispatch of 119,000 packets of life-saving food to Syria, funded by the orders you make at The Test Kitchen in The Merchant House and on the street at events across the UK. We’ve just received an exciting update from our charity partner, Plump'd!

“This Christmas, Plump'd have an especially large shipment on its way to Northern Syria. That’s 80 cartons of Plumpy'Nut and 600 cartons of Plumpy'Mum!

“This time around, we’ve focused on helping the littlest ones: our donation of Plumpy'Mum will mark the first time this product is being used in Syria, and will play a critical role in the management of nutrition for pregnant and lactating women.”

Endless gratitude to everyone who has eaten with us since March. You’ve made this life-saving mission a possibility!

November 2018 update

We, together with our charity partner Plump’d, have just dispatched our huge shipment of 119,000 Plumpy’Nut and Plumpy’Mum packets via freighting ship from Le Harve, France on Wednesday 21st November 2018. The food aids young children and pregnant women in need.

At the time of writing, we expect the dispatch to reach Mersin in Turkey at the start of December 2018. From there, it will be driven into Northern Syria and distributed by NGO Hand in Hand for Aid and Development to medical programs treating malnutrition across Idlib, Syria.

A massive thank-you to everyone who has helped us on our journey so far — this is a momentous milestone in our mission to save the world one street food order at a time. The gratitude we have for all our partners and customers from over the years is immeasurable. Thank you.

The Facts

Three million children die every year from SEVERE malnutrition.

One in four of the world‘s children are malnourished.

One hundred percent of this is preventable.

Preventative measures: Plumpy'Nut and Plump'd

Plumpy’Nut is a nutrient enriched peanut paste used to treat emergency malnutrition cases. It contains essential fats, carbohydrates, and protein as well as added vitamins and minerals. It can alleviate a starving child from impending illness or death. It has a shelf life of 18 months and requires no preparation to use.

Plump’d raise funds for the purchase and distribution of Plumpy’Nut to vulnerable children in conflict zones and food crises.

Run completely by volunteers, they use the funds raised directly for the purchase and distribution of Plumpy’Nut.

NEED STREET FOOD: FEEDING you AND FEEDING THE WORLD

We’re in business to feed the world — that's why every ORDER YOU MAKE AT NEED STREET FOOD FUNDS THE SHIPMENT OF packets of life-saving Plumpy'Nut food to a programme treating malnutrition.