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5 food manufacturers embracing community collaborations
From linking up with worthy causes to promoting sustainable farming in Latin America, June saw an interesting variety of activity from some of the biggest brands in food and drink.
1. Bakkavor doubles support for allergy foundation
Fresh prepared food brand Bakkavor doubled its annual donation to The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation to commemorate World Allergy Week.
Founded by Nadim and Tanya Ednan-Laperouse, who lost their daughter Natasha to an allergic reaction in 2016, the charity has done amazing work raising awareness around food allergies and supporting clinical trial projects.
“I was so impressed by the work of The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation that I felt we, as Bakkavor, should do more to help accelerate their work,” said chief executive Mike Edwards.
2. Moy Park raises almost £120,000 for Alzheimer’s Society
UK food producer Moy Park has just concluded its charity partnership with Alzheimer’s Society, after two years of fundraising.
In that time, Moy Park teams from across the UK have put on initiatives such as sky dives, quizzes, marathons and charity hikes, with the final tally falling just short of £118,000 after the company matched that raised by the staff.
Linzi Stewart, community fundraiser for Alzheimer’s Society, said: “We are extremely grateful to Moy Park for the funding they have raised for us throughout our partnership. The lengths that the team have went to has been admirable.”
3. Nestlé joins forces with The Yield Lab Latam to support agriculture start-ups
Nestlé launched a partnership with The Yield Lab Latam last month (June 2023) as part of a bid to change the food sector in Latin America.
The Yield Lab Latam invests in technology start-ups that operate in the agri-food industry, promoting the use of innovative solutions and connecting investors, start-ups, corporates, farmers, research communities and public sector officials.
"Investing in technological innovation in the agri-food sector and drawing on the energy and creativity of start-ups can help meet common goals such as reducing emissions and increasing biodiversity," said Nestlé vice president strategy, business development and ESG Maxence de Royer.
4. IFCO expands support for UK food redistribution charities
Reusable packaging container provider IFCO has strengthened its relationship with UK food redistribution charities FareShare and The Felix Project.
The partnership is intended to make it easier, faster and cost neutral for businesses donating surplus food to the charities. Both FareShare and The Felix Project work closely with the food industry to ensure good food is not wasted.
“We hope that our contribution means that more suppliers will join the network and more communities can be reached, particularly at a time when such services are so desperately needed,” said Neil Steward, who leads IFCO’s food bank collaboration.
5. Kellogg’s partners with the Big Scottish Breakfast for the first time
Cereal manufacturer Kellogg’s has linked up with the STV Children Appeal Big Scottish Breakfast, which invites Scots to have breakfast together and raise money for children affected by poverty.
The event is set to take place between 11-15 September, with STV presenter Laura Boyd visiting a breakfast club in the Scottish town of Alloa earlier this week to launch the new partnership.
Heather Murphy, Kellogg’s community engagement manager, said: “Being hungry can impact children in many ways in the classroom, making them unable to concentrate. That’s why we support breakfast clubs, so that children can enter the classroom in the morning without a rumbling tummy and ready to learn.”
In other feel-good news, a spinout from the University of Edinburgh has been awarded £3.6mn to develop a machine that can decarbonise high temperature industrial processes at a whisky distillery in Scotland.
