Consumer Health and Wellness in Latin America Focus of New Strategic Partnership

The Consumer Goods Forum and PAHO Foundation Sign Memorandum of Understanding

MEXICO CITY, April 20, 2017 /CNW/ - The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) and PAHO Foundation have today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to signal their commitment to collaboration for healthier lives in Latin America. The MoU states that both parties agree to work together to foster innovation leading to improved health and wellness outcomes in the region. The MoU also states that the PAHO Foundation recognizes the unique ability of the CGF Latin America Board of Directors to speak on behalf of the industry in its relationship with external stakeholders.

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This important, cross-sectoral partnership emphasizes how more can be achieved by working collaboratively - an idea central to the CGF's mission. As the only organization bringing consumer goods retailers and manufacturers together globally, the CGF is uniquely placed to support PAHO Foundation's mission to improve the lives of people in Latin America through innovation and strategic partnerships.

As part of the MoU, both parties agree to identify opportunities for collaboration and engage in an open dialogue, as they look to coordinate their respective efforts to improve health and wellness in Latin America. This is based on the collective belief that:

• Health and wellness is the foundation of productive and prosperous societies and an important component of the economy;
• Society benefits from jointly leveraging the capabilities of the private sector in combination with those of government and non-governmental organizations to help people lead healthier lives;
• Health and wellness is a priority as is the need to promote innovation, including through public-private partnerships;
• The parties believe in sharing information and best practices that lead to promoting healthy lifestyles among all sectors of society; and
• Health and wellness in Latin America can be improved by: (i) building relationships, improving communications, and enhancing cooperation and coordination among public and private sector stakeholders; (ii) identifying health and wellness challenges in Latin America; (iii) investigating the causes of these challenges in Latin America; (iv) identifying, testing, and implementing potential solutions to health and wellness challenges in Latin America; and (v) mobilizing the resources needed to accomplish the foregoing.

Carlos Mario Giraldo Moreno, CEO and President of Grupo Exito, and retailer Co-Chair of the CGF's Latin America Board, said, "We retailers play a vital role in the lives of our shoppers and food is a central part of life. Good food is one of the cornerstones of health. I am proud to see our industry help shoppers better understand nutrition so they can make great choices for themselves and their families. In that spirit, we enter this collaborative relationship with PAHO Foundation because they share our values around helping the people of Latin America lead healthier lives. Today we are beginning an alliance that has far-reaching potential to improve the quality of life in the region. It is an effort that leverages the best capabilities of our industry."

Daniel Servitje, Chairman and CEO of Grupo Bimbo, and manufacturer Co-Chair of the CGF's Latin American Board, said, "This is an important day for our industry and our consumers. Today we have agreed to work collaboratively with PAHO Foundation, to promote health and well-being for people throughout Latin America. This agreement reflects our willingness to work for those we serve. We want all people to be healthy, lead active lives and realize their fullest potential. I am proud of this first step in what will be a vitally important, shared journey."

Dr Jennie Ward-Robinson, PAHO Foundation President and CEO, said, "Signing this MoU marks the dawn of addressing public health in the region by leveraging the power of private and public partnerships."

The MoU is also the latest in a group of initiatives from The Consumer Goods Forum in Latin American. Last year, the organization established its first regional Board of Directors and is now working on a pilot in the region to support consumer education and empower consumers to make healthier choices.

Through the CGF's Health & Wellness Pillar, the organization also recently published a report noting members had reformulated 180,000 products in 2016, removing ingredients like sugar and salt and adding whole grains and vitamins, while over 30,000 communities worldwide have been involved in industry-led programs that promote healthier diets and lifestyles. To learn more about the CGF's Health & Wellness work, visit http://www.tcgfhealthandwellness.com.

About The Consumer Goods Forum  

The Consumer Goods Forum ("CGF") is a global, parity-based industry network that is driven by its members to encourage the global adoption of practices and standards that serves the consumer goods industry worldwide. It brings together the CEOs and senior management of some 400 retailers, manufacturers, service providers, and other stakeholders across 70 countries, and it reflects the diversity of the industry in geography, size, product category and format. Its member companies have combined sales of EUR 3.5 trillion and directly employ nearly 10 million people, with a further 90 million related jobs estimated along the value chain. It is governed by its Board of Directors, which comprises more than 50 manufacturer and retailer CEOs. For more information, please visit: http://www.theconsumergoodsforum.com.

About PAHO Foundation  

Improving the health and wellbeing of the people of the Americas is at the heart of PAHO Foundation's work. As an independent nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, we are committed to enabling better health and a brighter future for people across the region. Our mission is to develop programs, share insight and collaborate with experts and partners to have a profound, positive impact on seemingly intractable public health problems that threaten the health and prosperity of people in the Americas.

SOURCE The Consumer Goods Forum