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

USA - English

Ontario customers contribute over one third of food drive donations, helping thousands of families across the province

BRAMPTON, ON, 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. 

Ontarians have helped to replenish food bank supplies in the province with $392,000 and 367,885 pounds of food donated by customers and colleagues from  Loblaws®, Fortinos®, Zehrs Markets®, Your Independent Grocer®, valu-mart®, Real Canadian Superstore® and nofrills® stores across Ontario during the Extra Helping™ Spring Food Drive of 2014.

"Ontario food banks feed an estimated 375,000 people each month – 131,000 of them are children," says Bill Laidlaw, executive director at the Ontario Association of Food Banks. "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 Loblaws^®, Fortinos^®, Zehrs Markets^®, Your Independent Grocer^®, valu-mart^®, Real Canadian Superstore^® and nofrills^® stores in communities across Ontario.

About Ontario Association of Food Banks

The Ontario Association of Food Banks is a network of 120 food banks and over 1,100 hunger-relief programs across the province. This includes breakfast clubs, school meals programs, community kitchens, emergency shelters, seniors' centres, and youth groups. Together we serve over 375,000 individuals (including 131,000 children) living with chronic hunger every single month.

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, [phone] or [email protected]; Amanda King, Manager of Communications, Ontario Association of Food Banks, Telephone: [phone] x2932, Email: [email protected]