Foodbank Awards Corporate ‘Relief’

Foodbank Australia has recognised the contributions of four companies that have helped bring food relief to thousands of Australians in awards that celebrate innovation, leadership, collaboration and partnership.

The annual Foodbank Awards were presented to Kellogg's, Manildra Group, GrainCorp and the Flight Centre Foundation at a formal dinner in Canberra.

Enzo Allara, Chairman of Foodbank Australia said “every year we look to acknowledge and celebrate the companies that embody the attributes we rely upon to achieve the goal of eliminating hunger in Australia”.

“It’s always a difficult decision to single out winners but this year it was even tougher when all of our industry partners have risen to the challenge of the escalating demand. However, I’m pleased to say that the recipients of the 2014 Awards are truly worthy of accolades for their respective contributions.”

The recipient of the Leadership Award was Kellogg’s, a company which demonstrated a holistic approach to its partnership with Foodbank both internally and externally with its ‘Breakfast for Better Days’ program.

Kellogg’s commitment included a donation of 7 million serves of breakfast cereal along with a cash donation of $100,000 to expand Foodbank’s school breakfast programs.

“In addition to raising awareness of Foodbank amongst the public, Kellogg’s ensured the full engagement of its staff through volunteering, internal food drives and hamper packing events,” Allara said.

Andrew Towle, Managing Director of Kellogg Australia & New Zealand said, “The Kellogg’s Breakfast for Better Days program is one that we’re particularly focused on to make sure food goes to Australians who really need it. Kellogg has supported Foodbank since 1998, and we’re proud to be continuing our partnership with Foodbank in efforts towards hunger relief.”

Manildra Group was the recipient of the Collaboration Award for being a pivotal partner in the provision of the staple foods on which nutritious meals can be built.

“Over four years Manildra has donated over 1,300 tonnes of flour which has underpinned the essential breakfast cereal and pasta collaborative supply programs,” Allara said.

Responding to receipt of the Award, Dick Honan, Chairman of Manildra Group said “the fact that there are people in Australia today who worry about having a meal for themselves and their families compels us to seek ways in which we can help. It was not a difficult decision for our company to become part of the smart approach Foodbank is taking to sourcing the food needed to address this problem.”

The Award for Innovation went to GrainCorp for its role as a driving force behind the establishment of the Grain Program which has seen the sector exceed its first year target of providing 1,000 tonnes of grain for Foodbank’s manufacturing endeavours.

Foodbank said GrainCorp helped to set up and trial the system and then provided leads and introductions to other companies in the grain industry to facilitate its expansion. It has also looked for increasingly creative ways of sourcing grain, working with farmers to facilitate their individual donations.

Grain Corp’s  Director of Government and Media Relations, Angus Trigg said “GrainCorp is pleased to have played our part in helping Foodbank to deliver its essential service, but credit for this award really goes to the grain growers, without whom this donation would not have been possible.”

The Partnership Award went to the Flight Centre Foundation. Via the Foundation, the staff of Flight Centre Travel Group with company matching, has donated $150,000 to ensure the sustainability of the Long Life Milk Program.

John Whateley, Chairman of the Flight Centre Foundation said: “It is a credit to the Flight Centre Travel Group's people that when they are given the chance to make a difference they jump at it. The great work of Foodbank inspires them to do what they can at every opportunity to help fellow Aussies doing it tough.”

Foodbank is a non-denominational, Not for Profit organisation which acts as a pantry to the charities and community groups who feed the hungry.

It was first established in 1992 in NSW and now has a presence in every State and the Northern Territory with distribution centres in all state capitals as well as a number of regional centres. Foodbank is a conduit between the food industry’s surplus food and the welfare sector’s need.

The Not for Profit has more than 90 employees and over 3,000 volunteers.