Woolworths and Foodbank have announced their new partnership to help reduce food waste by securing the ongoing delivery of surplus food to those who need food in Australia.
“We know there is a growing need for food support right across the country, with more and more Australians challenged by the rising costs of living,” said Adrian Cullen, Woolworths head of Sustainability.
The supermarket giant said the 15 year partnership between the two organisations has seen over 15 million kilos of surplus food rescued and delivered to vulnerable Australians.
The annual Foodbank Hunger Report has revealed during the last 12 months, 3.6 million Australians, or 15 per cent of the population, have experienced uncertainty around where their next meal is coming from.
“Woolworths is committed to reducing food waste and continuing to support the communities in which we operate. This renewed National donor agreement with Foodbank will not only help reduce food waste but improve the timely donation of any surplus, edible food from Woolworths, from right across our supply chain,” said Cullen.
“The agreement also confirms our commitment to ensure any surplus food from the expanding range of Woolworths branded food products is also donated to Foodbank.”
“Our Foodbank Hunger Report this week exposed how increasing numbers of people are falling into food insecurity simply due to the rising cost of living. This ongoing commitment by Woolworths is one way we can ensure food waste is reduced right across the supply chain and ensure those in need do not go without when having to make tough choices about where to spend their money,” said Brianna Casey, CEO Foodbank Australia.
Woolworths also works closely with Foodbank, OzHarvest and other food rescue organisations. The supermarket giant has helped divert over 4,015 tonnes of food to these partners in the last year alone, which equate to more than 8 million meals being delivered to vulnerable Australians.
“By our side for 15 years, Woolworths is the single biggest retailer donor of food and groceries to Foodbank, donating more than 15 million kilograms to date. Not only does Woolworths provide us with regular food and grocery donations, they also help us source food across Australia by facilitating introductions and support from their primary and independent producers,” added Casey.
“Woolworths has also been partnering with us to seek solutions to reduce this problem, such as developing paddock-to-plate solutions to redirect perfectly edible food to vulnerable Australians. Fundraising campaigns by Woolworths over the years, with State and Territory teams activating at a local level, have also helped raise awareness about hunger in Australia.”
