Our story
Why we started Bankuet
Drawing on nearly a decade in the music industry, where he'd watched CDs give way to streaming, Robin believed there had to be a smarter way to support food banks.
A pilot with Wandsworth Foodbank quickly grew. Within six months, 10 food banks were on board. When the pandemic hit, communities rallied, donating £1.5 million through Bankuet in the first lockdown alone.
Today, Bankuet partners with 295 food banks nationwide, to get them exactly what they need, when they need it, cutting waste and making donations simpler and more impactful for supporters.
Our purpose
Our mission
Our vision
Our journey
From a simple idea to a nationwide platform, here's how Bankuet has grown over the years.
2019
Bankuet was founded after Robin Ferris volunteered at his local food bank and identified the need for a more efficient donation system. By December, we were supporting 10 food banks and had delivered over 15,000 zero-waste items.
2020
During the COVID-19 pandemic, donations surged 5,200% from February to March. 165+ people stepped forward to volunteer, as we scaled rapidly from 10 to over 100 food banks. We completed 1,000 bulk deliveries across 51 cities.
2021
Bankuet expanded its team, enhancing the platform with new features to better serve food banks and donors. We launched the UK's first frozen veggie food bank with Strong Roots and published the Food Fighters e-cookbook featuring 60+ recipes from chefs and food writers.
2022
Reached £2m donations in total donations and launched new fundraising tools to help communities support their local food banks. Robin met HRH Majesty King Charles III, alongside other leaders, to discuss Bankuet's innovative approach to tackling food poverty.
2023
With over £3 million now raised via our platform, Bankuet launched new features of its web app for food banks, ensuring faster and more reliable delivery of supplies across the country. Our children's book "Kobe Ketchup and the Food Bank Adventure" was published and James Bay's sold-out show at Lafayette London raised £22,000 in one night.
2024
We launched our reimagined web application for food banks in July for our 5th anniversary, improving accuracy and reliability. Our "Ribbons for Provisions" campaign with The Last Dinner Party raised £58,138 across 22 sold-out shows, followed by Travis's "Eat The Beat" tour raising £21,053 in December.
2025 and beyond
Today, Bankuet continues to grow and innovate, supporting 295 food banks with over £5.3 million donated. We remain focused on using technology to create sustainable solutions to food poverty across the UK.
Why food banks are under pressure
Behind every parcel is a story: rising bills, low wages, unexpected illness, a broken benefits system. Food banks were never meant to be a long-term solution, but for now, they are essential. At Bankuet, we wish they weren't needed. But while they are, we're here to help them address real needs with dignity and care.
How Bankuet helps:
What people say about us
Hear from food banks, donors and more about how Bankuet is making a difference.
Want to make sure no one in your community goes hungry?
There are a few simple ways to get involved: give through Bankuet to make your money go further, start a fundraising campaign to rally your community, or follow and share our message to help spread the word. You can also donate directly to the Bankuet platform to support the tech and team behind it all.
