Loblaw on track for record-breaking Extra Helping™ Food Drive campaign

British Columbia customers help thousands of families across the province

VANCOUVER, June 2, 2014 /CNW/ - With more than $1 million and 526,000 pounds of food donated across Canada during the Extra Helping™ Food Drive, Loblaw Companies is more than halfway to achieving its 2014 goal of $1.8 million and 1.8 million pounds of food. 

British Columbians have helped to replenish food bank supplies in the province with $84,005 and 36,128 pounds of food donated by customers and colleagues from Real Canadian Superstore®, Your Independent Grocer®, nofrills®, Extra Foods®, and Wholesale Club™ stores across the province during the Extra Helping™ Spring Food Drive of 2014.

"Every month food banks in British Columbia feed 94,000 individuals – 30 per cent of whom are children," said Laura Lansink, Executive Director of Food Banks BC. "Loblaw's food drive helps keep the shelves of food banks across the province stocked with healthy choices all year long."

Loblaw's stores have a long history of supporting food banks in their local communities. In 2009, the company rebranded its efforts under the Extra Helping™ Food Drive, a bi-annual, national campaign to reduce hunger. Since then Loblaw stores have raised more than $8.5 million and more than 8.1 million pounds of food. In addition, through annual corporate donations, Loblaw Companies has contributed $1.37 million to date to Food Banks Canada in support of their National Food Sharing Program.

"Year after year our customers contribute food items or add a few dollars to their grocery bill to ensure that families in their community have enough to eat," says Peggy Hornell, senior director, Community Investment, Loblaw Companies Limited. "It's because of this generosity that we can set the ambitious goal of raising $1.8 million and 1.8 million pounds of food, and know that it's within reach. Our spring food drive gets us more than half of the way to our annual goal, and gives us great hope for our holiday drive."

Loblaw's Extra Helping™ Holiday Food Drive kicks off in December 2014 at Real Canadian Superstore®, Your Independent Grocer®, nofrills®, Extra Foods®, and Wholesale Club™ stores in communities across British Columbia.

About Food Banks BC

Food Banks BC is the provincial association of 94 member food banks across the province! Our vision is a hunger-free future, and we work hard to support and inspire each one of our member food banks so that they can in turn, achieve hunger-free communities all over BC. Every year through the National Food Sharing System (NFSS), we distribute more than one million pounds of food to community food banks. Plus, through our BC Sharing coupons program, food banks in our province are able to work directly with their local grocery stores to receive food donations, every time a shopper scans a BC Share coupon. Last year, our food banks helped close to 94,000 people throughout the province… 30 per cent were children!

About Loblaw Companies Limited

Loblaw Companies Limited is Canada's food and pharmacy leader, the nation's largest retailer, and the majority unitholder of Choice Properties Real Estate Investment Trust. Loblaw provides Canadians with grocery, pharmacy, health and beauty, apparel, general merchandise, banking, and wireless mobile products and services. With more than 2,300 corporate, franchised and Associate-owned locations, Loblaw, its franchisees, and Associate-owners employ approximately 192,000 full- and part-time employees, making it one of Canada's largest private sector employers.

Loblaw's purpose – Live Life Well – puts first the needs and well-being of Canadians who make one billion transactions annually in the companies' stores. Loblaw is positioned to meet and exceed those needs in many ways: convenient locations; more than 1,050 grocery stores that span the value spectrum from discount to specialty; full-service pharmacies at more than 1,250 Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharmaprix locations and more than 500 Loblaw locations; no-fee banking with PC Financial; affordable Joe Fresh fashion and family apparel; and three of Canada's top consumer brands in Life Brand®, noname® and President's Choice®. Through the PC Plus™ and Shoppers Optimum® loyalty programs, more than one in every three Canadians are rewarded for shopping with the companies.

SOURCE: Loblaw Companies Limited

Loblaw Public Relations Department, [phone] or [email protected]; Laura Lansink, Executive Director, Food Banks BC, 604-498-1798, [email protected]