Largest donation in Vegemite history

December 13, 2012

Kraft Foods Australia and a group of its suppliers has formed a collaborative partnership to deliver a special Christmas gift to Foodbank Australia.

The suppliers donated ingredients, materials, time and expertise to produce 100,000 jars of Vegemite for distribution to Australian families doing it tough. The partnership marks the single biggest donation of Vegemite in its 90 year history and the first collaborative venture with its suppliers for a charitable cause.

“We believe every Australian should have a healthy start to the day with a nutritious and delicious breakfast. Through the Foodbank collaborative supply program, thousands of disadvantaged families will have the opportunity to enjoy Australia’s favourite breakfast spread, the iconic Vegemite, the next time they sit down at the breakfast table”, said Kraft Foods Australia Head of Spreads and Grocery, Darren O’Brien.

The companies which collaborated were: AMCOR Closures, Coopers Brewery, Fermex, Grain Products Australia, Labelmakers Group, Lion, O-I Asia Pacific, Royce Communications, SAB, Savannah and VISY.

Foodbank Chair, Enzo Allara, said: “This donation from Kraft Foods and its suppliers will mean we have Vegemite for the essential school breakfast programs we support to provide a nutritious start to the day for thousands of children who would otherwise go to their classrooms hungry.”

Foodbank provides rescued and donated food to over 2,500 charities and community groups for distribution to people struggling to provide for themselves. While Foodbank is appreciative of every donation that comes through its doors from food industry, one of its challenges is ensuring there is a regular supply of the key foods that form the backbone of a nutritious diet. This is where Foodbank’s national food industry partners, such as Kraft Foods, generously step in providing straight out donations of essential products.

The delivery of Vegemite is an extension of Kraft’ Foods’ ongoing support of Foodbank. In 2011 Kraft Foods donated the equivalent of 650,000 meals for distribution to people in need.

Watch a television commercial on Foodbank and Vegemite

About Foodbank Australia

Foodbank is the largest hunger relief organisation in Australia and the pantry of the community sector. It is a non-denominational, non-profit, national organisation with distribution centres in all states, the Northern Territory and ten regional centres.

In partnership with the food and grocery industry, the corporate sector, governments and volunteers, Foodbank assists the charities and community groups of Australia to tackle the hidden problem of hunger. In 2011 24 million kilograms of food was distributed to create 32 million meals. This enabled Foodbank to assist 2,500 welfare agencies to provide 88,000 meals every day.

About Digital Tsunami and Foodbank Australia

Since the start of 2000, Digital Tsunami has supported Foodbank in Australia on a pro-bono basis, as a corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative. This support has included the development, hosting and technical support of the web presence at national and state levels.