Simplot wins the 2018 Foodbank Award

Foodbank has praised Simplot for its contributions to tackling food insecurity in Australia, announcing the company as the winner of the 2018 Foodbank Award at the Food & Grocery Australia conference held by the Australian Food & Grocery Council (AFGC).

Presented during the ‘Celebrating the Industry’ dinner in Melbourne, the annual award recognises companies that show vision, innovation and leadership in working with Foodbank. This year, Simplot took the award after spending the last six years as a partner in the Collaborative Supply Program, in which the whole sector — including farmers, packaging providers and transport companies — help produce over 3.2 million kilograms of key staple foods each year for Australians in need.

Brianna Casey, CEO of Foodbank Australia, explained the importance of recognising the efforts of teamwork in the industry, which she said has been influenced particularly through the efforts of Simplot having produced its one millionth jar of Leggo’s Pasta Sauce for Foodbank in 2017.

“We ask a lot of our food and grocery partners because there is much to do if we’re to eliminate hunger in Australia and we cannot achieve anything without them. I’m grateful to say that unfailingly they answer our call and make their crucial contribution with commitment and passion. It’s important to stop and reflect on what we accomplished together and celebrate the outstanding individual contributions that make such a difference.”

Referring to the Collaborative Supply Program, Casey said it “has achieved sustainability because of Simplot’s willingness to encourage the other companies involved in its supply chain. The production of Leggo’s Pasta Sauce involves 12 suppliers, the largest number of partners in any Collaborative Supply Program. Eight of these support the program by donating their contributions. In addition to Simplot, this includes Kagome, Ingredion, Invicta, Sunshine Sugar (Manildra Group), Amcor, Mathews and Cheetham Salt with additional funding from the Flight Centre Foundation.”

Graham Dugdale, Managing Director of Simplot Australia, accepted the award and said the company is “proud” of its partnership with the hunger relief organisation.

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