Nellsar Care Homes Champions Sustainable Dining During Food Waste Action Week 2026

Nellsar Care Homes, a family-run group of Care Homes across Kent, Surrey and Essex has marked Food Waste Action Week throughout its 13 Homes – encouraging team members to think more carefully about how food waste can be reduced both at home and in professional care settings.

This year, the UK’s biggest annual food waste reduction campaign was built around the theme of making food go further, targeting preventing waste, using leftovers, and recycling.

Across Nellsar, the organisation looked to broaden the conversation beyond household habits, linking everyday actions people can take at home with the practical steps that can help reduce waste in Care Home kitchens and dining services. Areas of focus include efficient stock management, thoughtful menu planning, portion awareness, and the appropriate reuse of surplus food.

The initiative is being supported by Nellsar’s Head of Nutrition and Head of Catering, working collaboratively with members of the Senior Management Team to help embed sustainable food practices across the organisation. It also complements wider efforts to reduce plastic use and unnecessary packaging, work with environmentally responsible suppliers and strengthen sustainable food sourcing and preparation across the group.

Luminita Mandache, Quality Development and Innovation Manager at Nellsar, said: “We believe good care, hospitality and sustainability should go hand-in-hand. Food Waste Action Week provides a valuable opportunity to reflect on how small, practical changes, both at home and within our Care Homes, can make a meaningful difference.

“This is not simply about reducing disposal. It is about strengthening the full journey of food, from planning and procurement through to preparation, presentation and dining experience. By helping our team members understand how thoughtful food practices support both environmental responsibility and resident well-being, we can create lasting change across our Homes.”

To coincide with Food Waste Action Week, Nellsar has also introduced a reviewed food waste management log across its Homes. The new system has been designed to help teams record food surplus, reuse, and disposal more consistently, enabling the group to build a clearer picture of where waste occurs and where improvements can be made.

Although this year’s campaign is primarily focused on team member awareness, residents continue to play an important role in shaping Nellsar’s catering and dining services. Across its Homes, residents are regularly invited to share feedback through pictorial meal satisfaction surveys and mealtime feedback tools, helping teams to review menus, portion sizes and dining experiences.

Nellsar’s wider approach also recognises the close link between food sustainability and resident well-being. Recent developments such as the introduction of a Development Chef role and dedicated Resident Mealtime Experience Lead are helping to raise standards in menu development, presentation, flavour and dining support, ensuring meals remain enjoyable, meaningful and tailored to individual needs.

Luminita added: “Our aim is to create systems that reduce waste while enhancing the quality, enjoyment and nutritional value of meals for residents. We know that environmental, social and financial sustainability are closely connected and by working together across our Homes, we can build practices that are both responsible and lasting.”