Sobeys gets Canadians cooking with Canada's biggest potluck party

Food Revolution Day event raises $25,000 for the Cooking Toward Independence Project

STELLARTON, NS, May 16, 2014 /CNW/ - Canadians have been heading back to the kitchen during Canada's Biggest Potluck Party, cooking and sharing their favourite dishes at potlucks leading up to Chef Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution Day.

Today's global day of action is aimed at raising awareness of the importance of educating people about food and how to cook it. With only one in five Canadians preparing at least one meal per day from scratch, Sobeys launched Canada's Biggest Potluck Party on April 28 to encourage the country to get cooking.

Canadians took up the challenge at home, work and many places in between to share a wide assortment of homemade meals such as tropical kale salad, salmon fish cakes, empanadas and apple pie.

"Well done, Canada! Thanks to everyone who joined in Sobeys' potluck challenge to cook and share a meal from scratch with kids, family and friends," said Jamie Oliver. "By participating, you've helped to spread the importance of food knowledge and shown others how easy it can be to get cooking, eat better and have fun sharing great food."

On behalf of Canadians who took part in Canada's Biggest Potluck Party, Sobeys is donating $25,000 to the Children's Aid Foundation's Cooking Toward Independence Project. The new initiative aims to improve the lives of young people leaving the Canadian child welfare system when they turn 18 by funding cooking skills workshops that teach them how to prepare nutritious, affordable meals.

"We're so appreciative of the support we've received from Sobeys and the thousands of Canadians who hosted or participated in a potluck over the past few weeks," said Valerie McMurtry, president and CEO, Children's Aid Foundation. "We look forward to kicking off the project to teach young people how to cook, which is an important part of leading a healthy and successful life." 

"It's great to see Canadians embracing the notion of 'better food for all' and supporting a worthy cause through our potluck challenge," said Doug Brummer, Senior Vice President, Marketing at Sobeys Inc. "We're excited to see the commitment of people from coast to coast to get in the kitchen and cook better food for themselves, their family and friends."

About Sobeys Inc.
Proudly Canadian, with headquarters in Stellarton, Nova Scotia, Sobeys has been serving the food shopping needs of Canadians for 107 years. A wholly-owned subsidiary of Empire Company Limited (TSX:EMP.A), Sobeys owns or franchises more than 1,500 stores in all 10 provinces under retail banners that include Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland, FreshCo, Thrifty Foods, and Lawton's Drug Stores as well as more than 330 retail fuel locations. Sobeys and its franchise affiliates employ more than 124,000 people. The company's goal is to be widely recognized as the best food retailer and workplace environment in Canada. More information on Sobeys Inc. can be found at www.sobeyscorporate.com.

About Children's Aid Foundation
An astonishing number of children in Canada are at risk and need our help. Many suffer in poverty, while others have been victims of abuse and neglect. A staggering 76,000 of them live in foster homes or a residential facility. The mission of the Children's Aid Foundation is to fund programs that give them skills and hope for a promising future. Learn more at www.cafdn.org.

About Jamie Oliver
Jamie Oliver is a phenomenon in the world of food. Most famous for his Emmy-Award winning television series, Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution on CBC, Jamie has become a campaigner for better school food and food education. The Jamie Oliver Food Foundation has created an annual global day of action – Food Revolution Day www.foodrevolutionday.com – inspiring people all over the world to stand up for real food, and Canada has been one of the most active countries for the past two years.

His television programs are broadcast on Food Network Canada and the accompanying bestselling cookbooks are published by HarperCollins Canada. Jamie lives in London and Essex with his wife, Jools, and their children, Poppy, Daisy, Petal and Buddy.

SOURCE: SOBEYS INC.

Allison Colalillo, High Road Communications for Sobeys Inc., [email protected], 416-644-1644