After becoming disheartened with the number of people going hungry in Dunedin, and the amount of food waste being sent to landfill, Ms Manning started the not-for-profit food rescue service in March.
Foodshare took donated items of perishable and prepared foods and drinks from businesses, then sorted, stored and redistributed them to organisations which fed the hungry, including the Salvation Army and the Dunedin Night Shelter Trust.
"It's the sort of concept you can't argue with because it's the answer to two questions - the problem of food being wasted and going to landfill . . . and members of the community going hungry.
"It bridges the gap," she said.
Wishbone, which opened in Dunedin Hospital recently, was its first partner.
Ms Manning was "delighted" the company got on board as its healthy, individually wrapped food was easy to distribute and aligned with Foodshare's principles of providing nutritious food.
Wishbone general manager Samantha Lacoua said the company was "proud" to be working with Foodshare as it would "have an impact on people in need throughout Dunedin".
Over the past few months, Foodshare had grown and now received food from Highgate Bridge, MaHiggins, Coupland's Bakeries, and Bidvest Foodservice, which also provided operating space at its facility.
Ms Manning said: "'The beauty is [these companies] are willing to give it away, rather than throw it away."
