Danone Ireland has recently announced a three-year partnership with FoodCloud, to help educate and empower community groups nationwide to prepare nutritious meals using surplus food.
According to the health-focused food-and-beverage company, the partnership aligns with Danone’s mission to ‘bring health through food to as many people as possible’ and will see the company provide a nutrition education programme as part of FoodCloud’s Community Support Programme.
Through the partnership, Danone’s registered dietitians and nutritionists will directly support FoodCloud’s charity and community group partners with an annual webinar and the provision of recipes and nutritional information.
‘The aim is to help charities and community groups around Ireland in making the most of surplus food and preparing nutritionally balanced meals for those who use their services,’ the company noted.
Commenting on the new partnership, Killian Barry, managing director, Danone Ireland, said, “We believe that large food companies like Danone have a responsibility – not only to address waste along the food supply chain, but to support health at all stages of life. This includes helping to ensure that people have access to information and education about food and nutrition.
“Having worked with FoodCloud for a number of years, we wanted to evolve our partnership beyond providing surplus food, to better supporting the charities and community groups who receive it.”
Food Poverty
In a recent report, the Department of Social Protection estimated that during 2022, 9% of people in Ireland experienced food poverty.
By contributing to its Community Support Programme, Danone aims to help FoodCloud increase the volume of food redistributed by 10% and grow the number of charities and community groups that it supports by 50 new charities annually.
The three-year partnership will also allow FoodCloud to distribute the equivalent of over 600,000 meals.
Furthermore, Danone’s unlimited volunteering policy means that its 740+ employees around Ireland can support FoodCloud at its three food distribution hubs – in Dublin, Cork and Galway – the company noted.
Aoibheann O’Brien, partnerships director, FoodCloud, added, “We are committed to not only ensuring that perfectly good food does not go to waste, but also supporting our community group partners to make the most of the surplus food they receive.”
Whitefriar Community Centre
FoodCloud’s recent survey with its charity partners revealed that food purchasing has become more challenging for families and individuals.
One charity that will benefit from the partnership is Whitefriar Community Centre, in Tallaght, Dublin.
Brendan Dowling from Whitefriar Community Centre is “delighted” to be part of the FoodCloud Community Support programme, as he sees first-hand the incredible impact that it has in his community.
Dowling commented, “Obviously, the main role we have within our community is redistribution of surplus food to those in need. However, we also run cooking workshops and clubs with young people from the area and share healthy-cooking advice to local parents and adults.
“We are so fortunate that we get to see for ourselves the difference this can make. It truly changes lives, and we think this work with FoodCloud and Danone will be of real benefit in the community.”
© 2023 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Donna Ahern. For more A-brand news, click here. Click sign up to subscribe to Checkout.
