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Sourcing Sustainable Surplus Potato Suppliers in the UK
When it comes to sourcing potatoes for your business, the challenge is not just about finding quality produce. It’s about finding suppliers who align with your sustainability goals and help reduce food waste. That’s where surplus potato suppliers come in. These suppliers take farm surplus potatoes that might otherwise go to waste and turn them into valuable, nutritious food products. If you’re looking to make your supply chain greener and more efficient, sourcing sustainable

Andrew Steel
9 hours ago4 min read


Beyond the Marketplace: Why We Are building Ample Food Match (and Why We Need You to Break It)
Commercial food procurement is still weighed down by fragmented ordering systems, missed delivery windows, and inflexible supplier directories. When the initial Ample Marketplace launched, our aim was straightforward: bridge the gap between food buyers and sustainable British produce. However, real kitchen operations do not run like consumer e-commerce storefronts. Commercial kitchens and institutional buyers do not have the time to browse endless individual lots every mor

Andrew Steel
3 days ago2 min read


Proof in the Harvest: How 95t of Surplus Cucumbers Proves the Ample Model Works
Every year, millions of tonnes of perfectly edible, fresh produce are left unharvested or rejected by major supermarket supply chains due to strict cosmetic standards. Straight, uniform cucumbers make the cut; slightly curved, oversized, or uniquely shaped ones—classified as Class II—often get left behind despite offering identical taste and nutritional value. At Ample, we set out to fix this broken system with a commercial solution that rewards growers, supplies mission-driv

Andrew Steel
Oct 53 min read


Why Pure Software Couldn’t Fix Food Waste—And How Ample is Building a Solution
Every single day, 26,000 tonnes of fresh, edible food are thrown away across the United Kingdom. Visualising that volume isn't easy until you imagine a mid-sized cargo ship, packed to the brim with produce, sinking beneath the waves every 24 hours. This daily disposal represents an annual economic loss exceeding £20 billion and accounts for 6% of the total carbon emissions produced in the UK. Yet, the root cause isn't consumer apathy; it begins at the very start of the supply

Andrew Steel
Sep 283 min read


A Decade in the Making: What the New School Food Standards Mean for Our Children (And How Ample is Ready to Help)
For the first time in over a decade, the UK government has announced major reforms to the school food standards. Here at Ample, we couldn't be more thrilled. We have always believed that the food we serve our children directly impacts their health, their happiness, and their ability to learn. The government’s latest announcement is a monumental step forward in tackling childhood nutrition, focusing on delivering healthier, more balanced, and tastier school meals. But what exa

Andrew Steel
Sep 152 min read


The Great British Veggie Rescue! 🥕
We all know the secret to a knockout, nutrient-dense Ragu is in the ingredients. Our ultimate line-up? 🫒 Olive oil, onions, carrots, celery, and garlic 🍄 Mixed mushrooms & rinsed green or brown lentils 🍅 Chopped tomatoes, tomato paste, a splash of red wine (or veg stock) 🌿 Bay leaf, fresh thyme or rosemary, salt, and black pepper It’s a mouth-watering classic! But here is a wild stat for you: every single year in the UK, a whopping 152,000 tonnes of carrots and 66,000 ton

Andrew Steel
Sep 142 min read


The Importance of Ample Food Solutions in Sustainable Food Systems
Food waste is a massive challenge. Every year, millions of tonnes of perfectly edible food go unused, while hunger and environmental degradation persist. I’ve seen firsthand how businesses, caterers, and public sector organisations can make a real difference by adopting smarter, more sustainable food procurement strategies. One key player in this movement is Ample, which transforms farm surplus into valuable, nutritious products. Let’s dive into why this approach is so crucia

Andrew Steel
Sep 144 min read


Exploring the Ample Kitchen Partnership: A Kitchen Sustainability Initiative
When it comes to tackling food waste and promoting sustainability in the food industry, innovative solutions are more important than ever. I’ve been diving deep into how businesses, caterers, and public sector organisations can make a real difference. One standout approach is the kitchen sustainability initiative, which focuses on transforming surplus food into valuable, nutritious products. Today, I want to share insights about this movement and how a partnership with Ample

Andrew Steel
Sep 84 min read


Ample Versatile Ragu: Transforming Farmgate Surplus into Sustainable Solutions
Ample Versatile Ragu: Tackling Farmgate Waste, One Kitchen at a Time Every autumn, millions of tonnes of perfectly edible British crops never make it past the farm gate. At Ample, our mission is simple: eliminate farm-level food waste, pay British farmers fairly, and deliver ultra-versatile, nutrient-dense meal bases for busy kitchen teams, schools, and commercial caterers. The Power of UK Class II Surplus Data from WRAP and WWF estimates that between 1.6 and 3.3 million to

Andrew Steel
Sep 82 min read


48 Hours left to join the Ample journey.
Shop | Our Mission | Invest Don't invest unless you're prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high risk investment and you are unlikely to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more. The clock is ticking. This is your final opportunity to become an equity shareholder in Ample before our round closes. This is it. In just 48 hours, our Republic Europe crowdfunding round will officially close. We are currently over 98% funded, and this is your

Andrew Steel
Aug 211 min read


Rethinking the Prep Line: How Ample Kitchen Turns Farm Surplus into Culinary Gold
The modern commercial kitchen is running hot—and not just on the line. Between critical labor shortages, an industry-wide skills gap, and tight operational margins, caterers and chefs are constantly forced to do more with less. Ample Kitchen was built to take the pressure off without compromising on quality, sustainability, or flavor. By converting farm gate surplus into versatile, nutrient-dense soups, sauces, and stews, Ample Kitchen delivers a win-win for the entire food e

Andrew Steel
Aug 212 min read


Ample Kitchen: Cultivating a Sustainable and Equitable Food Future
At Ample, we demand a more equitable food economy because we hate waste and take practical action to stop it. Every year in the UK, two million tonnes of produce intended for human consumption never reaches a plate—emitting a staggering 3.2 million tonnes of CO2e into the atmosphere. Cutting Emissions at the Source We tackle food waste at the primary production stage, an area far too often overlooked in supply chain strategy. Ample Kitchen addresses this directly: 75% Surplus

Andrew Steel
Aug 202 min read


Meet The Founders
Nearly twenty years ago, Leon Aarts and Dr. Andrew "Andy" Steel sat in the same business school at an event in Bali, both driven by a relentless entrepreneurial drive, though their paths would temporarily take them to opposite ends of the globe. Today, they have come back together around a single, uncompromising mission: Ample. Andy & Leon Leon’s path began in the kitchen. After hotel management college and running his own fine-dining restaurant, he moved his young family fro

Andrew Steel
Aug 192 min read


Effective Strategies for Farm Surplus Management UK
Managing farm surplus effectively is a challenge that many businesses, caterers, and public sector organisations face today. With increasing pressure to reduce food waste and improve sustainability, finding smart ways to handle excess produce is more important than ever. I’ve seen firsthand how adopting the right strategies can turn surplus into opportunity, benefiting both farmers and buyers alike. Let’s dive into some practical, actionable approaches that can help you optim

Andrew Steel
Aug 194 min read


Only 1 week left to invest in Ample!
Don't invest unless you're prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high risk investment and you are unlikely to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more. 101% funded with just 6 days remaining. Here is a recap of why industry leaders are backing our vision. We are officially down to the wire! With only 6 days remaining in our Republic Europe crowdfunding campaign and 101% of our funding goal reached, the window to join Ample as an equity

Andrew Steel
Aug 182 min read


How Ample Meal Components Empower Institutional Kitchens
In high-volume public sector catering, kitchens face constant pressures around labor, time, and tight prep schedules. In this short video clip, co-founder Leon Aarts breaks down how Ample's product design directly solves these operational bottlenecks. Key Takeaways from Leon: Prep-Heavy Bases: Ample Kitchen produces core meal components—rich soups, sauces, and stews—handling labor-intensive chopping and long cooking times upfront. Maximizing British Surplus: Every recipe is f

Andrew Steel
Aug 171 min read


How In-House Production Unlocks Profitability & Institutional Scale
As we head into the final hours of our raise, Andrew Steel shares what this capital deployment achieves operationally and what commercial success looks like for Ample. Key Highlights from the Video: Margin Control & Profitability: Rather than relying on outsourced manufacturing, this raise allows us to build our dedicated kitchen facility at Oakland’s Food and Science Park. Bringing production in-house significantly increases our gross profit margins and operational control.

Andrew Steel
Aug 171 min read


10 days left: Join the mission to transform UK food waste
Don't invest unless you're prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high risk investment and you are unlikely to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more. This August, we are in the home stretch of our Republic Europe campaign. Your opportunity to become a shareholder in a more sustainable, resilient food system is entering its final two weeks. A Vision Validated by the Sector We are not alone in this mission. Industry leaders and supply cha

Andrew Steel
Aug 141 min read


Surplus Potatoes UK: A Fresh Look at Surplus Potato Suppliers
When I first started exploring the world of surplus potatoes in the UK, I was struck by how much potential there is to turn what might seem like waste into a valuable resource. Potatoes are a staple in many kitchens and businesses, yet a significant amount of surplus goes underutilised. This post dives into the landscape of surplus potato suppliers in the UK, highlighting how businesses, caterers, and public sector organisations can benefit from this sustainable and cost-effe

Andrew Steel
Aug 124 min read


How Ample Kitchen Empowers Chefs with Zero-Waste Meal Components
Preparing fresh, nutrient-dense institutional meals takes a massive amount of time, labor, and kitchen prep. Ample Kitchen is built to make that process effortless for chefs while tackling British food waste at the source. In this video clip, we share how our products serve as versatile "meal components"—from rich soups and sauces to hearty stews: 🥦 Packed with Surplus Vegetables: We utilize as much farmgate surplus produce as possible in every batch. 🔪 Heavy Lifting

Andrew Steel
Aug 111 min read
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