Atlantic Superstore locations and Feed Nova Scotia are pleased to participate in Food Banks Canada's new Retail Food program to help fight hunger
HALIFAX, March 7, 2013 /CNW/ - TSX: L: - Building on the Extra Helping™ Food Drive program, Atlantic Superstore® locations and Feed Nova Scotia are pleased to join efforts in a new initiative to help fight hunger by participating in Food Banks Canada's new Retail Food program. The program will provide fresh food (bakery, meat and produce) to local food banks in Nova Scotia.
Close to 23,500 Nova Scotians rely on the assistance provided by food banks each month - according to Food Banks Canada's annual HungerCount Survey - this is a 39.3 per cent increase since 2008.
"Sadly, the need in our communities continues to grow. This program will better enable us to serve our clients with a consistent flow of fresh food," says Dianne Swinemar, executive director, FEED NOVA SCOTIA. "We thank the Atlantic Superstore® team for working with us on this initiative and for being such a good partner to us for many years."
With this new program, Atlantic Superstore® locations, in addition to their ongoing donation of non-perishable food, will work with Feed Nova Scotia to set aside a mix of fresh food, depending on product assortment and availability.
"Our grocery stores are proud to be part of the communities we serve and we are pleased to have been able to develop an arrangement that helps to increase the availability of fresh, quality food to those in need," says Philip McNeill, senior vice-president, Conventional Operations, Atlantic Canada, Loblaw Companies Limited.
In 2012, Loblaw banner stores in Nova Scotia raised $100,000 and 22,000 pounds food donated by customers and colleagues during food drives held at Atlantic Superstore®, Save Easy® and nofrills® stores.
"We are very excited and thrilled to be a part of this progressive approach to help meet the needs of local and provincial food banks. Across the country, Loblaw banner stores will participate in the Food Retail program in Halifax, Montreal, Winnipeg, Calgary and Vancouver," says Peggy Hornell, senior director, Community Investment, Loblaw Companies Limited.
Nationally, Loblaw banner stores have a long history of supporting food banks in their local communities. Since the launch of the Extra Helping™ Food Drive campaign in 2009, Loblaw has raised over $5.6 million in cash donations and 6.3 million pounds of food. Additionally, it has donated $1.125 million corporately.
The 2013 Extra Helping™ Spring Food Drive kicks off on April 19, 2013, at Atlantic Superstore®, Save Easy® and nofrills® stores in communities across Nova Scotia.
About Loblaw Companies Limited
Loblaw Companies Limited, a subsidiary of George Weston Limited, is Canada's largest food retailer and a leading provider of drugstore, general merchandise and financial products and services. Loblaw is one of the largest private sector employers in Canada. With more than 1,000 corporate and franchised stores from coast to coast, Loblaw and its franchisees employ more than 134,000 full-time and part-time employees. Through its portfolio of store formats, Loblaw is committed to providing Canadians with a wide, growing and successful range of products and services to meet the everyday household demands of Canadian consumers. Loblaw is known for the quality, innovation and value of its food offering. It offers Canada's strongest control (private) label program, including the unique President's Choice®, no name® and Joe Fresh® brands. In addition, the Company makes available to consumers President's Choice Financial® services and offers the PC® points loyalty program.
About FEED NOVA SCOTIA
FEED NOVA SCOTIA is a provincial charitable organization that helps feed hungry people by collecting and distributing food to more than 150 food banks, shelters and meal programs throughout Nova Scotia. The charity also works to alleviate chronic hunger and poverty through research, awareness initiatives and client programming.
SOURCE: Loblaw Companies Limited
Loblaw Public Relations Department
(905) 459-2500
[email protected]
Dianne Swinemar
Executive Director
FEED NOVA SCOTIA
(902) 457-1900
[email protected]
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