C O M P A N YO V E R V I E W

Primo Helping To meat The Need

Foodbank Australia Association

Primo Helping To meat The Need

Foodbank Australia Association

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FOODBANK AUSTRALIA ASSOCIATION

Essential protein is on the menu for Australians in need thanks to an innovative partnership

between Foodbank, Australia’s largest food relief organisation, and Primo Smallgoods.

In a chain of collaboration which stretches right back to the cattle farm, donated livestock is being

turned into sausages to form the backbone of nutritious meals for struggling Australians who might otherwise go without.

Fortnightly deliveries of sausages go from the Primo factory to Foodbank warehouses around Australia. Primo undertakes the manufacture of

Foodbank guests serve a special midday meal at the Salvation Army’s William

Booth House in Surry Hills to mark the official launch of the Foodbank Meat

Program. (From left) Bernie McNally and Rob Lederer, Primo Smallgoods;

Geoff Starr, Foodbank Australia; Gerry Andersen, Foodbank NSW; Annie

Chapman, Department of Social Services.

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www. foodbank .org .au/ 7 8

FOODBANK AUSTRALIA ASSOCIATION

Protein is a critical component of nutritious meals for people seeking food

relief. With the help of Primo Smallgoods, the Foodbank Meat Program is

working towards distributing enough sausages to charities for 75,000 meals

a month.

the sausages with the support of its suppliers such as Devro, who provides the sausage casings and Labelmakers who provide the labels. Scott’s Refrigerated Transport delivers the sausages around the country.

Foodbank has a target of 10,000 kilograms of sausages

every month – enough for 75,000 meals - to meet the current need for this critical meal component. To achieve this, it is working with Primo, along with the cattle industry to obtain a regular ongoing supply of animals from farmers and cattle companies to underpin the Primo production.

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FOODBANK AUSTRALIA ASSOCIATION

Paul Lederer of Primo Smallgoods prepares some of his company’s sausages

for the residents of the Salvation Army’s William Booth House in Surry Hills at

the official launch of the Foodbank Meat Program.

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www. foodbank .org .au/ 8 0

FOODBANK AUSTRALIA ASSOCIATION

Foodbank acts as a bridge between the needs of Australia’s disadvantaged and the desire of the food and grocery industry to provide assistance. All sectors of the industry, from primary producers to retailers, support Foodbank by providing stock that is surplus to need, close to expiry or out of specification.

This is not enough to meet the growing demand for food relief, however, so in addition Foodbank partners with the country’s manufacturers in innovative programs to proactively source a range of key staple foods - such as breakfast cereals, milk, fruit and vegetables, pasta, rice and meat – essential to the provision of balanced, nutritious meals.

The sausage program is the latest of these initiatives to reach

back along the food chain to fill the supply gap. Foodbank has now established programs that tap into the willingness of producers, processors and manufacturers from many sectors to help as much as they can. By involving as many players in the supply chain as possible, the challenge is shared and therefore the programs become more sustainable.

CEO of Foodbank Australia, Jason Hincks said: “Having a significant and sustainable meat program has long been a goal of Foodbank because of the vital role protein plays in a balanced diet and the relative difficulty we experience in obtaining it through our traditional rescue channels. We are extremely grateful to Primo Smallgoods and its partners who have helped to make this possible.”

Foodbank Australia Ltd

Address 11 Julius Ave North Ryde, NSW 2113 Tel. +61 02 9887 4144

Sarah@foodbank.org.au www.foodbank.org.au/