Partnership serves up 40 million meals to Aussies in need
Manildra Group has helped provide 40 million nutritious pasta meals for Australians in need thanks to a unique partnership with Rinoldi Pasta and Simplot as part of Foodbank’s collaborative supply program.
Since 2004, Manildra Group has provided flour to manufacture pasta with Rinoldi as part of the country’s first program of its kind. Since 2009, MSM Milling has further provided canola oil to contribute to the production of Leggo’s Napoletana Pasta Sauce in a joint initiative between Manildra and Simplot. Sugar for the pasta sauce is also donated by Manildra, through Sunshine Sugar.
Foodbank’s collaborative supply program seeks the involvement of a number of companies to produce, process, package and transport key staple foods for people in need, with ingredients and services donated or provided at minimal cost.
“Manildra Group is proud that our relationship with Foodbank provides an example of what can be achieved, every week, for thousands of Australians in need when suppliers and food manufacturers come together to work for the collective benefit of our community,” said Manildra Flour Mill Manager John Brunner.
MSM Milling Director Peter Mac Smith said the 100 per cent Australian business was also proud to donate locally grown and pressed canola oil to the pasta sauce program.
Mr Mac Smith said the family-owned Manildra Group, a founding partner of the pasta program for Foodbank, remained committed to future corporate support of the valuable community service following recent reports of an increase in demand.
Foodbank Australia CEO Brianna Casey said support from the corporate sector was essential to ensure the organisation could feed 644,000 Australians in need every month.
“The pasta and pasta sauce programs set the benchmark for our food industry partnerships,” said Ms Casey. “Through the generosity and commitment of Manildra Group, MSM Milling, Rinoldi and Simplot, we have a constant and sustainable supply of product that forms the foundation of a variety of hearty meals.”
Foodbank is Australia’s largest hunger relief organisation, providing 63 million meals a year to more than 2600 charities and 1750 schools. Each year, it distributes more than 35 million kilograms of food and groceries – the equivalent of more than 172,000 meals a day.