AI platform 'speed dating for trucks' aims to cut charity's costs

The food distribution charity Felix spent £5.6 million in 2025 on logistics for collecting surplus food and delivering it to community organisations. This cost is essential for ensuring food reaches those in need, according to Richard Smith, director of food innovation at Felix. A new initiative, using artificial intelligence and nicknamed 'speed dating for trucks', has been launched to lower these expenses.

How the platform works

Read Next in News London3 min read

Police seek men after Bethnal Green park rape

A reward is offered for information regarding the attack on a 13-year-old girl in Weavers Fields.

The system uses AI technology to connect logistics providers, retailers, and manufacturers. It identifies spare haulage capacity and matches it with the charity's need for collecting surplus food. Nicola Robinson, director of Alliance Food Sourcing (AFS), explained that three-quarters of Felix's £5.6 million logistics expenditure in 2025, which covered 80,000 pallets, came from third-party logistics companies. AFS identified an opportunity to utilise existing spare capacity within UK road hauliers.

Data from the Department for Transport indicates that approximately 30 percent of all heavy goods vehicle (HGV) journeys have unused space. The 'speed dating' platform aims to fill this capacity by directing lorries with available space to Felix's depots for food collections.

Projected savings and early results

Related Borough Coverage3 min read

Man dies in Poplar tower fire as residents report no alarms

Firefighters battled a blaze at Neutron Tower where a 17th-floor resident lost their life.

Early trials have already demonstrated financial benefits. A twice-weekly milk delivery from the food producer Greencore to the Felix depot is projected to save the charity £20,000 per year. Darren Binns, head of logistics at Greencore, stated that the company can absorb the costs and use its extra space to move surplus food into Felix's network.

Furthermore, Sainsbury's and logistics provider GXO have identified ten additional routes for moving food for Felix. These routes are estimated to save the charity around £170,000 annually. Other organisations, including Tesco, M&S, and supply chain company Gist, are providing free consultancy and logistics support to the project.

If the new platform is expanded, AFS estimates it could save Felix up to £1 million per year. This scaling up is also expected to reduce road miles, contributing to lower carbon emissions. The initiative comes at a time when food insecurity in London has increased by 23 percent over the past two years, according to data from Trust for London.

What happens next

AFS is urging more companies within the food industry to support the project. The charity operates a depot and kitchen in Poplar, east London, where surplus food is received, sorted, and redistributed to charities tackling food poverty across the city.