Get to know Us

Photos of people shopping at a grocery store or supermarket, with shelves stocked with various food items and produce, and customers engaging with staff and browsing.
Photos of people shopping at a grocery store or supermarket, with shelves stocked with various food items and produce, and customers engaging with staff and browsing.

We’re all about helping our people and our planet!

Our mission is to reduce food waste and alleviate hunger by redistributing surplus food to those in need, all whilst creating an environmentally sustainable future.

Through our efforts, we aim to create a greener planet where everyone has access to nutritious food and our resources are used efficiently.

Approximately 3 million households in the UK are being forced to skip meals in the face of the Cost of Living crisis.

Yet, the equivalent of 1 billion meals are sent to landfills every year.

This is perfectly good food that could be filling the plates of those who need it most whilst helping the planet.

Learn more

Our Story so far…

Early 2020

The Big Difference begins as an offshoot of the Big Breakfast in response to the COVID-19 lockdown

June 2020

Group of nine people smiling and posing for a photo inside a building, with a woman in a red sweater kneeling in front holding a check. The background includes a blue door and an emergency exit sign.
Group of nine people smiling and posing for a photo inside a building, with a woman in a red sweater kneeling in front holding a check. The background includes a blue door and an emergency exit sign.

We had given out over 440 food parcels, almost 2,000 packed lunches, and over 3,000 frozen meals in just a few months!

A black background with a purple, curved arrow pointing downward and to the right.

october 2021

Consumer Price Index spikes at 11% and the demand for emergency food services surged

By 2021 the Cost of living Crisis had officially begun…

Close-up of a black surface with a white curved line and an arrow pointing downward.

The Big Picture 2022-2023

By 2023

Solid purple irregularly shaped patch or swatch

1/3

of children

in Southampton were living in low-income households

A black background with a purple spiral arrow pointing downward.

Easter 2024

In addition to our daily efforts, we gave 250,000 chocolate eggs to over 60 schools and children’s charities across Southampton

June 2024

Two photos of people shopping, one in a grocery store with a man and two women near refrigerated cases, and another in a market with a man and a woman near strawberries.
Two photos of people shopping, one in a grocery store with a man and two women near refrigerated cases, and another in a market with a man and a woman near strawberries.

In response to the growing food insecurity crisis, we opened our first Social Supermarket in Northam — one of the most deprived areas of Southampton —, granting hundreds of people access to affordable food and fighting food waste

More about Social Supermarkets
An overhead map of a winding road with an arrow at the bottom pointing downward.

June 2025

Following the success of our Northam branch, we set our sights bigger and were able to open our Shirley Warren supermarket only one year after our doors first opened.

We now support over 10,000 people a week through our operations.

Four overlapping photo frames showing scenes from a grocery store and checkout area with customers and employees.

Easter 2025

A purple curved arrow pointing clockwise.
Photos of people shopping at a grocery store, with images showing a group of employees at a checkout counter, a woman browsing produce, shelves stocked with snack foods, and customers at checkout counters.
A purple note with a message about the increase in volume of emergency food distributed by food banks from 2022 to 2024, with handwritten style text.

We gave out 10,000 Easter buckets – full of chocolate, activities and joy alongside running both of our supermarkets!

December 2025

Over the festive period, we distributed 11,000 Christmas gift tins to local community groups and kept our shops stocked to the brim, helping those facing hardship celebrate the holidays with dignity.

What we're up to!

where we are now

We work with over 100 community groups to continue tackling food insecurity around Southampton.

Since opening our doors in 2020, we have redistributed more than £7.5 million worth of food!

Every month, we redistribute 60-70 tonnes of food across the community.

The need for our support continues to grow

Our long-term vision is a city-wide circular food system where as much surplus food as possible stays in Southampton to support local people, strengthen communities and protect the environment.

But, this won’t be possible without the support of our partners, volunteers and the generosity of people like you!

If you would like to support the big difference donate or check out our opportunities via the links below!

Donate!
Volunteer with us!

Every month, up to 60-70 tonnes of food is rescued from going to landfill.

That’s over 100,000 meals going to those who need it most,

every four weeks.

Meet the people who make it possible!

  • Sanjay Mall

    Sanjay Mall

    CEO

  • Aaron Dolman

    Aaron Dolman

    Operations & Logistics Manager

  • Close-up of a woman with straight brown hair smiling, wearing pearl earrings and a white top, indoors with blurred background.

    Kelly Chahal

    Admin & Finance

Our Trustees

  • Ash James

    Ash James

    Chair of Trustees

  • Mike Spradbruy

    Mike Spradbruy

    Trustee

  • Chris Ward

    Chris Ward

    Trustee

  • James Lepage

    James Lepage

    Trustee

For more on our wonderful team check out out the Team and Trustees page.