Collaborative effort will provide 1.3 million servings of Weet-Bix to hungry Australians

Foodbank Australia, the nation’s largest hunger relief organisation, announced the national distribution of the beloved Australian breakfast cereal, Weet-Bix, to 2200 welfare agencies across the country.

The Sanitarium Health & Wellbeing Company has worked collaboratively with Foodbank and its partners to coordinate the production of the breakfast cereal, which will create 1.3 million bowls of Weet-Bix and provide Australians in need with a nutritious and substantial breakfast.

Enzo Allara, Chairman of Foodbank Australia, and Kevin Smith, General Manager of the Sanitarium Health & Wellbeing Company, will oversee the delivery of the first instalment of 40,000 boxes of Weet-Bix destined to assist hungry Australians around the country.

Enzo Allara comments, "Sanitarium also announced that it will officially sign on as a national Foodbank donor. We’re excited about this formal acknowledgment of support as it provides us with greater certainty of receiving sought-after key staple foods. As one of our long-time supporters, Sanitarium has previously provided us with food for Christmas hampers and helped with emergency relief for the Victorian bushfire victims.

“This production of over 40 tonnes of cereal is particularly significant for Australian children relying on hunger relief, as there are currently one million children who each year regularly go to school without having eaten a meal,” adds Allara.

The production of Weet-Bix is part of Foodbank’s collaborative supply program, which aims to meet the deficit of essential food items, such as breakfast cereals, milk, pasta and pasta sauce, canned fruit and vegetables. Through the donation of ingredients and services and some additional funding where needed, these key items are manufactured and delivered to those in need across Australia.

There is a significant gap between the amount of staple foods donated to Foodbank and what is needed to feed those relying on hunger relief. In particular, Foodbank needs more breakfast foods - in 2009, 1,040,000 kilograms of breakfast cereal was needed; however, only 74,534 kg was donated.

Kevin Smith, General Manager of Sanitarium Australia, says, “We are proud to support Foodbank and do what we can to help those in need. Weet-Bix is the favourite Aussie breakfast and we want to make it available to all Australians. Breakfast is an important part of a balanced diet and Weet-Bix is a delicious and nutritious start to the day as it’s made from whole grain wheat.”

Under the leadership of Sanitarium, Foodbank was able to call on additional key partners including Graincorp, Visy, Anzpac and Linfox to donate ingredients and services to complete the production. Support was also provided by the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.

In the coming months, Foodbank Australia will deliver the Weet-Bix to welfare agencies in all states and territories.