For Immediate Release
Contact: Christina Fecher, 616-735-7968 christina.fecher@meijer.com
Oct. 22, 2012
Meijer Expands its Food Rescue Program Across the Midwest Retailer’s food rescue program continues to grow with 80 percent store participation
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Meijer is proud to announce continued growth of its hunger relief efforts by once again expanding the retailer’s food rescue program to eight additional food banks across the Midwest.
“We are very excited about what these partnerships represent: Another way to get good food to hungry people,” said Mike Anderson, store director of the Champaign Meijer. “Not only are we helping with hunger relief, our program provides healthy choices to a greater number of people who rely on food banks for their meals.”
The Meijer food rescue program helps increase the total tonnage of food delivered to local food banks while utilizing quality food that would otherwise go to waste. Nearly 700,000 pounds of food, which accounts for more than 527,700 meals, was donated by Meijer in 2011 to local food banks.
The eight food banks in the Midwest the retailer added this fall to its program include:
· Eastern Illinois Foodbank in Urbana, Illinois
· Food Bank of South Central Michigan in Battle Creek, Michigan
· Freestore Foodbank in Cincinnati, Ohio
· Mid-Ohio Foodbank in Grove City, Ohio
· Food Finders Food Bank in Lafayette, Indiana
· Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana in Muncie, Indiana
· Food Bank of Northern Indiana in South Bend, Indiana
· Dare to Care Food Bank in Louisville, Kentucky
“The Food Bank of South Central Michigan is excited to enhance our long-standing community partnership with Meijer by adding store rescue to the many ways this company has supported our work throughout the years,” Executive Director Bob Randels said. “The food that Meijer is donating will go to help feed the more than 102,600 people each year who rely on the food bank’s network of 285 member agencies in eight counties to make sure their families have enough to eat.”
Meijer began its food rescue program in 2008 with food banks picking up fresh food – meat, cheese and select deli and bakery items – from 29 Meijer stores in southeast Michigan. It has since grown with more than 160 Meijer stores participating with a rescue food bank, and will continue to expand companywide next year.
Participating food banks pick up fresh food from their local Meijer store 2-3 days per week. An estimated 2,400 products are available to donate to food banks.
Meijer donates more than 6 percent of its net profits to charity every year.
About Meijer: Meijer is a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer that operates 199 supercenters and grocery stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky. As a pioneer of the “one-stop shopping” concept, Meijer stores have evolved through the years to include expanded fresh produce and meat departments, as well as pharmacies, comprehensive electronics departments, garden centers and apparel offerings. Additional information on Meijer and the ability to shop for more can be found at www.meijer.com. Follow Meijer on Twitter @twitter.com/Meijer or become a fan at www.facebook.com/meijer.
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