Partnership helps provide 51 million meals to Aussies in need

December 2018. Orange: Despite some of the toughest drought conditions on record, Manildra Group and MSM Milling continue to help Foodbank to provide 51 million meals to Australians in need through flour, sugar and oil donations as part of Foodbank’s vital collaborative supply program.

Since 2004, Manildra Group has provided flour to manufacture pasta with Rinoldi as part of the country’s first program of its kind. From 2009, MSM Milling has provided canola oil donations to the production of Leggo’s Napoletana Pasta Sauce in a joint initiative with Simplot and its ingredient suppliers. Sugar for the pasta sauce is also donated by Manildra, through Sunshine Sugar.

Foodbank Australia General Manager National Supply Chain, Michael Davidson, said the organisation is incredibly grateful for the ongoing support and partnership with both Manildra Group and MSM Milling.

“With more than 40% of Foodbank’s total food relief volume helping regional and remote communities and the tough season at hand, the involvement of these two leading regionally based manufacturing companies is appreciated and needed more than ever to help communities and vulnerable Australians, including here in their own backyard, in Orange and regional NSW.

“Manildra Group and MSM Milling source the wheat and canola from the local area, handle the milling and consolidation locally and help people in the local area with the finished products from the program distributed via our network of front line charities,” he said.

In 2017 the Manildra Group collectively donated 22,400 meals to Foodbank from product donations across its range, and more than 5 million serves from its involvement in the two collaborative supply programs, providing a significant social return on investment of more than $8.2 million last year alone.

In addition to its ongoing donations, Manildra Group has assisted by providing flour and sugar donations for Foodbank’s drought relief hampers which are currently being distributed throughout regional NSW.

Manildra Group’s Manildra Flour Mill Production Manager, Tony Fitzpatrick said Manildra Group is proud to continue donating locally grown and produced flour and sugar to this vital program.

“With our national partnership with Foodbank now in its 14th year, the Honan family and Manildra Group team are committed to providing key staple foods to vulnerable Australians in need. Being part of an innovative program like this really demonstrates what can be achieved when suppliers and food manufacturers come together for the collective benefits of our communities,” said Mr Brunner.

MSM Milling’s Site Manager James Karbowiak, says MSM Milling’s involvement in the Foodbank Collaborative Supply Program is a perfect fit for the company to directly assist people needing hunger relief.

“Every year MSM Milling proudly donates thousands of litres of canola oil to this valuable program to ensure such a versatile pantry staple is made available to those who most need it. We’re a family business and the directors and the team are all proud and humbled to donate oil to the program and see the difference it makes to everyday Australians. On occasions I volunteer my personal time to assist at Foodcare Orange and it’s wonderful to see our products going some way to alleviate food insecurity in our local communities.” he said.