We moved into our new building in Tollcross in June 2024. Many of you will remember that moment, it felt like a big step forward for the Network, but also the start of something new rather than the end of a journey.
Now, nearly two years on, we wanted to share an honest update with pantry members about where we are, what we’ve been working on, and why some of this work has taken time.
This post is about clarity, and about how the developments we’ve made are designed to better support you and your communities.
Why we didn’t rush things
When we first moved into the building, our priority wasn’t to grow fast or launch lots of new activity straight away. Instead, we focused on getting the foundations right.
Over the past 21 months, we’ve been doing a lot of work that isn’t always visible but is essential if we’re going to operate safely, reliably, and at scale. That has included:
- Making sure our kitchen and food production spaces are fully compliant
- Strengthening food safety, health & safety, and fire safety systems
- Putting clearer processes and paperwork in place
- Improving storage, stock control, and logistics
- Strengthening financial systems, governance, and reporting
This kind of work doesn’t always look exciting, but without it, projects like Prepmate, bulk buying, training, and shared storage simply wouldn’t be safe or sustainable.
From a building to a proper hub
Over time, the building has become much more than an office or meeting space.
It now functions as a working hub that supports:
- Meal kit production and packing
- Training and employability activity
- Volunteer pathways and skills development
- Network coordination and partner working
As we’ve used the space more, we’ve learned a lot about what it actually takes to run food and community infrastructure well, including where the pressure points are and what systems need to be strong to avoid problems further down the line.
Those lessons have shaped how we make decisions.
Prepmate: Why we’ve taken a careful approach
One of the most visible developments over the past two years has been Prepmate.
Many pantries are already involved, and we know how important it is that Prepmate:
- Is reliable
- Is affordable
- Doesn’t add pressure to pantry teams
- Maintains quality and safety
- Supports dignity and choice
Behind every Prepmate kit is a lot of work; sourcing ingredients, managing prices, controlling portions, reducing food waste, packing safely, managing storage, and making sure deliveries happen when they should.
Rather than rushing to scale quickly, we’ve taken time to understand what works well and what needs tightening before expanding further. That’s helped us build a much stronger, more stable model, and one that’s better able to support pantries in the long run.
Learning as we go (and strengthening systems)
Like many organisations working in live food environments, we’ve had moments where we needed to stop, reflect, and make changes.
When that’s happened, we’ve focused on:
- Improving training
- Tightening procedures
- Strengthening safety systems
- Reducing risk for staff, volunteers, and partners
We believe it’s important to be open about this. Learning, adapting, and improving systems is part of running things responsibly — and it’s how we protect the Network as a whole.
What this means for pantry members
Everything we’ve developed over the past two years has been done with one aim: to better support pantries.
In practice, this means:
- More reliable systems behind food supply
- Less risk being passed down to individual pantries
- Shared infrastructure where it genuinely adds value
- Support for skills, confidence, and employability alongside food access
- A Network that is better prepared for funding uncertainty and growing demand
The building has made this possible — but the real focus has always been on strengthening what pantries can rely on.
Where we are now
Nearly two years on, we’re no longer “finding our feet”.
We now have:
- Stronger operational foundations
- Clearer understanding of capacity and limits
- Safer, more compliant working environments
- A growing social enterprise that supports the Network
- A building that functions as a genuine hub for delivery and support
Most importantly, we have clarity — about what we do well, what takes time, and what needs protecting as we move forward.