McCain Foods announces $1-million commitment to help fight hunger

McCain Foods (Canada) and Food Banks Canada announce multi-year partnership

TORONTO, April 7 /CNW/ - McCain Foods (Canada) and Food Banks Canada today announced a multi-year partnership that will assist the almost 800,000 Canadians who rely on local food banks every month.

McCain will donate a minimum of $1 million in cash and food over the next three years to help fund new programs and to support existing national programs that raise awareness and fight hunger. The company presented a cheque for $100,000 to help kick off the partnership.

"As a leading food company, we believe we have an obligation to help feed the hungry," said Fred Schaeffer, President and CEO of McCain Foods (Canada). "We have been doing that on a local level since we opened our first plant in 1957, and we believe we can have an even greater impact by partnering at the national level."

Industry Minister Tony Clement applauded McCain's commitment calling it an example of a great Canadian company helping those Canadians who need it most.

"It is unfortunate that so many Canadians have to rely on food banks every month to feed their families," said Clement. "Ideally, we will eventually reach a day when food banks are no longer needed in Canada. But in the meantime, food banks rely on the generosity of companies like McCain to help them address an important social issue."

McCain provides Canadian families with some of their favourite foods including French fries, pizza, juices and desserts. It was the first company to remove trans fats from its retail French fries and recently announced its McCain It's All Good(TM) journey-a commitment to rewrite its recipes to make its food with simple, wholesome ingredients like people would use if they were cooking from scratch. While simplifying the ingredients, the company also reduced the sodium levels in many of its potato and pizza products.

And Schaeffer said McCain It's All Good(TM) goes beyond its products.

"We define it as good people, making good food, that makes people feel good," he said. "We know that we are doing good by supporting the important work of Food Banks Canada and helping those less fortunate makes us all feel good."

He noted that McCain employees have also embraced Food Banks Canada as their charity of choice and that they organize food drives and fundraisers at plants across the country in support of many local member food banks.

Katharine Schmidt, Executive Director of Food Banks Canada, welcomed the partnership with McCain and its employees.

"McCain has long been a supporter of food banks," she said. "Expanding and formalizing our partnership will help Food Banks Canada continue to work to reduce hunger in Canada. Our programs address both the short-term need for food as well as the longer- term solutions and McCain's support will help us do both."

About Food Banks Canada

Food Banks Canada is the national charitable organization representing the food bank community across Canada. Its Members, Affiliate Member food banks, and their respective agencies serve approximately 85 per cent of people accessing emergency food programs nationwide. Its mission is to meet the short-term need for food and find long-term solutions to reduce hunger. Please visit www.foodbankscanada.ca for more information.

About McCain Foods (Canada)

McCain Foods (Canada) is the Canadian division of McCain Foods Limited, the world's largest producer of frozen potato specialties. McCain Foods is an international leader in the frozen food industry, employing 20,000 people and operating 53 production facilities on six continents. The company's products can be found in thousands of restaurants and supermarket freezers in more than 130 countries around the world. For more information on our Canadian division, please visit www.mccain.ca

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For further information: Calla Farn, McCain Foods (Canada), [phone], [email protected]; Marzena Gersho, Food Banks Canada, [phone] x28, [email protected]