PepsiCo-owned Quaker Oats has partnered with Foodbank, donating 70 pallets of oats (50 metric tonnes), the equivalent of 1.4 million serves.
The announcement sees the extension of PepsiCo’s existing and longstanding partnership of more than 20 years with Foodbank, Australia’s largest food relief organisation.
Senior manufacturing manager at Quaker Oats, Stephen Boyd, said PepsiCo is committed to giving back to the communities in which the company operates.
“With 3.7 million Australian households experiencing food insecurity and struggling to meet their food needs, in the past 12 months, we are proud to extend the businesses existing partnership with Foodbank, via Quaker Oats, to support the crucial work Foodbank is doing to feed those doing it tough,” said Boyd.
Foodbank Australia CEO, Brianna Casey AM, said the organisation is grateful for the support they have received from PepsiCo over the years.
“Programs such as our Collaborative Supply Program which allows components of a product to be donated, ensures the Foodbank warehouses are stocked with key staples, such as oats, throughout the year,” said Casey.
“We are so proud to be part of this collaboration between PepsiCo and OpenWay Foods who dedicated manufacturing time to package the Quaker Oats into household-friendly sized bags.”
With the current cost-of-living pressures exacerbating the challenges facing those in vulnerable circumstances, 77 per cent of households experiencing food insecurity did so for the first time last year.
The country is amid a food security crisis where 48 per cent of the general population feels anxious or struggles to access adequate food consistency.
As Australia’s largest food relief organisation, Foodbank provides food and groceries to 2,844 charities and 3,379 school breakfast programs in every state and territory, sourcing enough food for 92 million meals in the past year.
