Nestlé enhances community support for food access, signs MOU with The Global FoodBanking Network (GFN)

Nestlé and The Global FoodBanking Network (GFN), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to hunger relief and environmental sustainability, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to further enhance their collaboration.

Nina Kruchten, Nestlé head of Corporate Giving and Community Engagement said "We tackle food insecurity by helping people in need gain access to food through actions such as product donations and as well as the giving of shared meals and services. Building on Nestlé's existing local support to foodbanks within the GFN network, averaging 5.2 million kilos of product donations each year, our new global relationship seeks to strengthen this collaboration towards our mutual goal of reducing hunger in our communities."

"Food banks are rooted in their communities, making them essential in responding quickly to address hunger relief. At the same time, food banks help reduce food loss and waste all along the supply chain, ensuring that wholesome food ends up on families' tables. We're proud to partner with Nestlé, a significant donor to food banks in our Network, to continue this important work to nourish people together," said Ignacio Gavilán, senior director of Food Systems Partnerships at The Global FoodBanking Network.

This partnership aims to continue Nestlé's effort to increase access to food across the geographies it operates in. Throughout 2023, Nestlé product donations globally totaled CHF 135.4 million, including, for example:

• Nestlé partners with its supply chain to create a special recipe base for distribution by Foodbank Australia and New Zealand to help those in need create a meal from ingredients in food hampers. In 2023, more than 1.7 million servings were distributed to vulnerable people in both countries.

• In Malaysia, to support communities in need, food and beverage benefitting 630 000 families was donated, through a long-standing collaboration with The Lost Food Project and Yayasan Food Bank Malaysia.

• In collaboration with the Egyptian Food Bank, Nestlé provided over a million servings of relevant products to communities in need in the region. Additionally, employee volunteering drives were organized to complement the ongoing contributions.

• In Greece, following the unprecedented flooding in Thessalia causing thousands of families to lose their homes, Nestlé delivered essential products via the Greek Food Bank during a difficult recovery period and festive season for the communities affected.

• To support the community in Canton de Vaud, Switzerland - the home of Nestlé for more than 115 years - Nestlé contributes to the support of 10 000 individuals and families every week in partnership with CA-RL through long-term and consistent product donations as well as volunteering.

• In Mexico, in response to Hurricane Otis relief effort, which devastated the city of Acapulco leaving communities in desperate need of water and other essential items, Nestlé contributed with essential products as well as a financial donation of MXN $1 Million to the Mexican Red Cross, CENACED and Red BAMX (Bancos de Alimentos de Mexico).

This MOU seeks to strengthen the collaboration between Nestlé entities across the world and GFN food bank members in appropriate regions, increasing the number of relationships and further enhancing the quality of Nestlé's support to food banks.

Nestlé and GFN remain committed to working together globally to ensure that food reaches those in need.