Foodbank Australia

Foodbank is the largest hunger relief organisation in Australia We distribute 33 million kilos of food a year - that's >60 million meals! We provide food to over 2,400 charities and 1,500 schools across the country. Foodbank is a non-denominational, non-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 distribution centres in all state capitals, as well as a number of regional centres. We operate with a staff of approximately 90 employees and over 3,000 volunteers. Our social and environmental return on investment is $23 for every kilo of food distributed, equal to $759 million each year. For school-aged children, our return in $110 per kilo. This accounts for the minimisation of food waste, improvements in nutrition and flow-on benefits to health, emotional wellbeing, sense of self-worth, social relationships and, ultimately, overall standard of living. We work with over 700 companies who donate food, fresh produce & groceries. Contributions include stock that is close to expiry, has incorrect labelling or damaged packaging, is excess to requirements or is from slow moving or deleted lines, as well as just straight donations. We are also able to call on food industry assistance for extra supplies of items at times of regional disasters such as bushfires and floods. Our Key Staples Program covers the gap between food supply and demand by proactively sourcing what’s needed, with the assistance of manufacturers and their suppliers. We collaboratively source breakfast cereal, fresh and long life milk, pasta, pasta sauce and canned fruit and vegetables. Foodbank sorts and shares products it receives within its national network through a comprehensive stock management system, which enables agencies to see what’s available, so they can order with confidence. The food is either delivered or collected by welfare agencies.