In 2023, around 2.3 billion people globally faced moderate or severe food insecurity, often going without food for an entire day or more. On the frontlines of this crisis are food banks. While the Global Food Banking Network provided 1.7 billion meals to over 40 million people in 2023, more progress is needed.
So, what role should food and beverage companies play?
“A lot of food banks need staples like long-life milk and fresh produce,” explains Rashna Shroff, Community Programs and Partnerships Manager at Nestlé Australia. “But often food bank organizations which rely on donations can struggle to meet demand and often look for institutional support,” she adds.
To support food banks in their efforts to combat food insecurity, companies like Nestlé are taking action. In 2023, Nestlé donated over 140 million food servings globally.
“Along with donating stock, a company like Nestlé can do so much,” Shroff shares. “Our brands have intentionally fostered partnerships with food banks, our employees volunteer their time to pack food boxes or sort donations, and we also fund programs like nutrition education initiatives.”
Here’s how that’s playing out globally. In Indonesia, children face high rates of stunting due to chronic malnutrition. Nestlé Indonesia is collaborating with local partner Edufarmers on their ZeroStunting program to focus on nutrition issues and bolster communities. This includes product donations and educational programs to improve nutrition awareness. And it’s working, one program they collaborated on lowered severe stunting rates by 28% over the course of 100 days.
In the United States, one in eight people struggle with hunger. Nestlé USA has partnered with Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger relief organization, and local food access groups like Rid-All, an urban farm in Cleveland, Ohio, to strengthen urban farming initiatives and community food systems.
Down under, Nestlé Australia has partnered with Foodbank Australia to mitigate a common challenge faced by food relief organizations: inconsistent food donations. Food banks often receive a random assortment of items, making it difficult for families to prepare balanced, nutritious meals. To alleviate this, Nestlé Australia worked with several industry partners to develop the Maggi Hearty One Pot Casserole, a recipe base that is designed to create delicious and nutritious meals with the food found in relief packages. This is the first ever designed-for-Foodbank product, and since its creation in 2021 has helped to make more than 1.2 million meals a year. “Our number one goal is to help feed more people,” says Rashna Shroff.
By leveraging resources like staff, inventory, and supply chains, companies can empower food banks. Successful partnerships built on strong relationships, local needs assessments, and sustainable systems, can create a lasting impact on the billions of people that need food each year.
