FEEDING A NEED: 29 NOVEMBER 2016

Partnership serves up 40 million meals to Aussies in need

Forty million meals have been provided to people in need thanks to unique partnerships between Australia’s largest food-relief organisation, Foodbank, one of Australia’s leading agribusinesses, Manildra Group, canola oil processor MSM Milling, Rinoldi Pasta and Simplot Australia.

Manildra has provided 1800 tonnes of flour for the manufacture of pasta since it joined forces with Rinoldi in 2004 as part of the country’s first collaborative supply program. MSM Milling has donated 15,000 litres of oil since it started collaborating with Simplot in 2009 to make and donate Leggo’s Napoletana pasta sauce. Manildra also donates sugar from Sunshine Sugar for the pasta sauce.

Foodbank Australia’s CEO Brianna Casey says corporate sector support, like that provided by Manildra and MSM, is essential to ensure the organisation can provide food for 644,000 people each and every month.

“The pasta and pasta sauce programs set the benchmark for our food industry partnerships. Through the generosity and commitment of Rinoldi, Manildra Group, MSM Milling and Simplot we have a constant and sustainable supply of a product that forms the foundation of a variety of hearty meals. This is crucial if we are to reliably supply front line charities with the food they need for their vital relief work,” she said.

“The 2016 Foodbank Hunger Report reveals that 43,000 people are still being turned away by charities every month due to lack of food. If we’re to bridge this gap, we need to find new and sustainable ways to supplement our existing sources of food. The pasta program is a standout example of what commitment and teamwork can achieve.”

The Manager of the Manildra Flour Mill, John Brunner, says Manildra Group was a founding partner of the pasta program and is committed to supporting the initiative into the future.

“Manildra Group is proud of its relationship with Foodbank and endeavours to go above and beyond should the organisation need more flour to produce more pasta. I see the pasta program as a great example of what can be achieved if the suppliers and food manufacturers come together and work on a collective goal that benefits thousands of people each week,” Mr Brunner said.

The Director of MSM Milling, Bob Mac Smith, says his business is proud to donate locally grown and pressed canola oil each and every year to the pasta sauce program.

“It’s very gratifying to be involved with Foodbank and see first hand how many needy people we help each week through our annual donation. MSM Milling is a 100 per cent Australian family owned business which has a long-standing relationship with the people at Simplot who make Leggo’s pasta sauces, so it was a natural fit to donate oil to help with the production of such a versatile food product that can help provide hunger relief to so many people. It’s a collaboration which provides more than 1.5 million serves each and every year to people needing hunger relief in Australia,” he said.

Food industry involvement in the programs is vital to their success. The Director of Rinoldi Pasta, Bill Quayle, says his company has been using flour donated by Manildra to make spaghetti and macaroni for Foodbank for the last 12-years. During this time, the program has made and distributed 40 million serves of pasta to charities across the country.

“The fact that there are people in Australia today who worry about feeding themselves and their families compels us to seek ways to help. It was not a difficult decision for our company to become part of the smart approach which Foodbank is taking to sourcing the food needed to address this problem,” he said.

Australian food manufacturer Simplot Australia’s Procurement Specialist, Mark Comito, assists in bringing together 10 ingredient suppliers, including MSM Milling, to provide the pasta sauce to Foodbank.

“It’s very important for us to be involved with Foodbank and we are so grateful that all of our suppliers get behind this initiative. It is absolutely fantastic that our annual donation helps so many everyday Australians. It is humbling to play a part in this program and to realise just what a difference the staple pasta sauce can make to thousands of Australian families each day. It’s only successful thanks the generosity of our suppliers,” he said.

Based on media release issued by MSM Milling