A shocking new study has revealed that Mancs throw away more than £1,000 of ‘freezable’ food every single year.
Manchester may have earned itself some impressive new titles as of late – including being named one of the UK’s ‘most creative’ cities for 2024, and one of the most desired places to live, to name just a few – but we have a feeling this isn’t one we’re going to be shouting about from the rooftops quite as much, as unfortunately, our food waste habits have been put under the spotlight.
That’s because a new study by leading electricals retailer, AO.com, has named Manchester the ‘food waste capital’ of the UK.
Statistics pulled from the less-than-desirable new study shows that residents in our city waste around 11% of their food shop, or £93.28 per month, equating to more than £1,119 every year – which, according to AO, is enough for a week-long all-inclusive holiday in Marbella for two people.
A shocking new study has named Manchester the ‘food waste capital’ of the UK / Credit: Rawpixel
Common essential groceries such as bread, fruit, and vegetables – all of which can be frozen – were listed as the items that are most likely to end up in the bin, the study revealed.
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Meat and fish, yoghurt, potatoes, and cheese were some of the other food staples named.
“It’s alarming to see the sheer amount of wastage generated by Manchester residents, particularly amid the cost of living crisis,” AO’s food storage expert, Sarah Heaps, commented as the results of the new study were published this week.
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“Binning over £1,100 worth of food annually, which equates to the cost of a family holiday, really puts things into perspective.”
Did you know it’s Stop Food Waste Day? We bin 7 million tonnes of edible food and drink every year, so we’ve got 5 tips to help reduce food waste at home. #StopFoodWasteDaypic.twitter.com/yjDSoyeodJ
Sarah also added that the study highlights that many of the frequently-discarded items can “easily be frozen” to extend their shelf life.
“By portioning out food and using freezing techniques, Mancunians can significantly reduce waste and save money,” she continued. “Embracing smarter food storage solutions and technology is essential in helping us all live more sustainably.”
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Sarah concluded that the survey findings underscore the importance of better food management practices families can adopt.
She says these will “combat waste” and “boost sustainability” in Manchester and beyond.
Featured Image – Rawpixel
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‘Enough is enough’ – Andy Burnham issues emphatic statement on Avanti West Coast nationalisation
Emily Sergeant
Avanti West Coast is set to be nationalised from next spring, the Government has confirmed.
After it was revealed back in 2024 to be the UK’s most ‘unreliable’ train operator, according to a shocking study, with 15.36% of its trains cancelled or delayed on average, it has now been confirmed that Avanti – which runs the West Coast Main Line from Manchester to London – will be transferred over to public ownership in March 2027.
Before this, the company had previously been given until 1 April 2023 to continue running the route, but was told it needed to ‘drastically improve’ its services if it was to stand any chance of having the contract extended further beyond that date.
Despite many customers continuing to voice discontent with level of services during this time, the Department for Transport (DfT) under the previous Conservative government deemed ‘significant improvements had been made’.
Avanti West Coast is set to be nationalised from next spring / Credit: Avanti (Press Images)
Now though, in the year 2026 with a Labour government in power at Prime Minister Andy Burnham at the helm, it has been confirmed that Avanti West Coast will be nationalised.
The Government says the services will be ‘run in the interests of passengers, not private sector shareholders’.
“From 7 March, taxpayers will no longer be paying fees to a private operator. Instead, every penny will be spent for the benefit of passengers,” the Labour Party said in a statement.
Andy Burnham has also issued his own emphatic statement on the matter.
Enough is enough.
For years, people have been expected to put up with Avanti’s cancellations, delays, overcrowding, and a service that has failed them time and time again.
So my Labour government is bringing Avanti West Coast into public ownership at the earliest opportunity in…
He wrote on X: “Enough is enough. For years, people have been expected to put up with Avanti’s cancellations, delays, overcrowding, and a service that has failed them time and time again.
“So my Labour government is bringing Avanti West Coast into public ownership at the earliest opportunity in March next year. That means passengers, not shareholders, will come first.
“More investment, fewer delays, and a renewed focus on getting the basics right.
“We’re putting essential services back in public hands and building a railway that actually works for the people who use it.”
Andy Mellors, who is the Managing Director at Avanti West Coast, added in his own statement: “Over the coming months, we’ll work closely with the Government to ensure a seamless transition into public ownership while remaining focused on delivering for our customers and communities.”
Featured Image – Avanti (Press Image)
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Premier League Darts is returning to Manchester’s AO Arena in 2027
Lydia Mastrolonardo
Premier League Darts is confirmed to be returning to Manchester next year.
Now’s your chance to see the youngest world champion in darts history, AKA Warrington’s very-own Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler, show us how it’s done, as next year’s BetMGM Premier League Darts lineup has just been announced this week – with various dates confirmed across 17 different cities in the UK and Europe.
And Manchester is one of those cities, as the AO Arena has shared that they are set to host an evening next April, and we couldn’t be more excited about it.
This means that we will be lucky enough to witness the biggest names in world darts all under one roof, including headliners Gian van Veen and Luke Humphries, as well as Littler.
Manchester is the only northern city to get the pleasure of hosting the event next year, as Liverpool is also on the lineup, as is Leeds, Sheffield, and Newcastle, while elsewhere in the UK, the stars will travel to Glasgow, Birmingham, London, and several other major locations.
BetMGM Premier League Darts is to be held on Thursday 8 April at the AO Arena in Manchester, and to avoid being disappointed, fans are advised to register for presale ticket access.
Following a successful season of events in 2026, tickets are expected to be like gold-dust, so don’t say you haven’t been warned.
To access the first wave of tickets, fans must become an active PDCTV Annual Member before 23:59pm on Friday 9 October. Alternatively, general sale is on Thursday 22 October 2026, but make sure not to hang about.
Emily Sergeant -
15th August 2024 
