Generosity of food companies to be rewarded at Foodbank Awards
Some of Australia’s leading food and grocery companies will this week be honoured by Foodbank Australia for their efforts to reduce food waste and alleviate hunger through donations of significant amounts of products to people in urgent need.
A range of food companies will receive special Foodbank Awards – to be presented by television personality Ernie Dingo in Canberra – at the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) annual dinner at the National Portrait Gallery on Wednesday.
Foodbank Australia – which runs an awards ceremony each year to recognise support by food companies – is Australia’s largest national food relief organisation. They receive generous support from about 450 food companies every day to deliver valuable food and drink supplies to every state via charities, including St Vincent De Paul.
Foodbank Australia distributes more than 18 million kilograms of food through welfare agencies across Australia which in turn becomes 24 million meals served to people in desperate need – the equivalent of about 60,000 meals every day.
AFGC Chief Executive Kate Carnell said the awards were an ideal opportunity to celebrate the achievements of the food and grocery sector in reducing food waste and helping those in need.
“Almost 25 per cent of household food is wasted every year. As a result, the food sector is committed to minimising food waste and helping the hungry by donating large volumes of food and groceries to Foodbank Australia,” Ms Carnell advised. “Australia’s biggest manufacturing industry is a major supporter of Foodbank Australia by donating and producing food which is then passed on to the nation’s leading charities.”
Foodbank Chief Executive Officer John Webster said the awards are an opportunity to reflect on the work done over the past year to help those in greatest need.
“The awards were first presented in 2004 and it’s a great tribute to these companies that, over the past five years, the food industry has donated food and grocery items valued at more than $400 million,” he said.
For more details about Foodbank Australia and how your company could help, please visit www.foodbank.com.au.
