Building on interviews and archival data, I argue that the charitable food provision (CFP) sector can be interpreted as a strategic action field (SAF). I first illustrate the shared rules, understandings and practices characterising the organizations that belong to the field, and the broader field environment that imposes constraints and provides opportunities to field actors. I then examine the characteristics of four, more relevant, charities to describe the power relationships between the incumbent, the challengers and what I call the sideliners of the field, and illustrate the field effects of the campaign carried out by a ‘socially skilled actor’ soon after the COVID-19 outbreak. Finally, I highlight how field theories contribute to understand the emergence and consolidation of food charities in the UK and beyond
