McCain Foods teams up with Foodbank to help those in need

The 2024 Foodbank Hunger Report confirms almost half of low-income households have faced food insecurity in 2024, with people in regional Victoria doing it particularly tough, with 37% struggling to feed themselves or their families over the last year.

To fight food insecurity, McCain Foods is teaming up with Foodbank Victoria for the second year running, dedicating the entire production line of its Ballarat dinner manufacturing plant for 24 hours to provide meals for Australians in need.

The initiative, part of Foodbank’s Collaborative Supply Program, will see McCain donate 106,800 meals to the value of more than $700,000. McCain is also donating more than 162,000 bags of frozen peas to Foodbank, valued at more than $337,000, bringing the total value of donated goods to more than $1 million.

On 12 November, 118 staff at the Ballarat dinner manufacturing plant were involved in preparing meals for those that need it most. Over the 24-hour period, McCain produced 46,000 Tuna Mornay meals and 60,800 Pub Size Chicken Kiev meals for Foodbank sites across the country, with a portion going directly to Foodbank’s Ballarat Community Food Centre.

McCain Foods regional vice president for supply chain – Asia Pacific and South Africa, Ross Fallon celebrated the initiative that provides relief to food insecurity and supports McCain’s staff in feeding the nation.

“It’s fantastic that a portion of meals is going directly to support people in and around Ballarat, especially when we know how tough things are for regional families right now,” he said.

“It’s important for companies like McCain to roll up our sleeves and help our communities, and we’re grateful to have the opportunity to do that through this brilliant initiative that helps Australians across the country put food on the table.”

Foodbank Victoria CEO, David McNamara says partnerships like this are more important than ever so Foodbank can continue to provide food relief, especially heading into Christmas time when household budgets are even more stressed.

“With more than one in three Australian families unable to afford the food they need, we’re beyond grateful to have McCain donate their people and time for a second year running to help these families out. We know that regional communities are particularly dealing with significant cost of living pressures, so the fact that our Ballarat and Morwell Community Food Centres here in Victoria will receive a donation of the meals directly from McCain is awesome,” he said.