CINCINNATI, OH - A $1 million investment will soon be addressing food insecurity in various markets as Kroger’s Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation has presented a $1 million retail agency capacity grant to Feeding America® to support four food banks across the United States.

"Kroger is a longstanding partner with more than 200 local food banks in our shared mission to eliminate hunger in our communities," said Keith Dailey, Group Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Chief Sustainability Officer for Kroger. "This grant will further support Feeding America's network of food banks and food rescue organizations in local communities so that we can continue making progress toward our bold goal to end hunger and eliminate food waste across America."

Beneficiaries of this grant include the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan (Flint, Michigan), Houston Food Bank (Houston, Texas), Mid-South Food Bank (Memphis, Tennessee), and the Atlanta Community Food Bank (Atlanta, Georgia).

As a press release detailed, the grants will empower food banks and agencies to increase the number of weekly food pickups through new equipment like refrigerated vans, freezers and forklifts, and added resources like staffing, training, and new technology.

In addition, the funding will also support retail rescue programs by building agency supporters' capacity to conduct direct pick-ups and improve equitable access to nutritious food.

"Kroger's support goes beyond financial commitment. It helps to power a whole system of people and resources that are crucial in the movement to end hunger," said Erika Thiem, Feeding America's Chief Supply Chain Officer. "Kroger's lasting collaboration with Feeding America means people facing hunger have more access to the food and resources they need to thrive."

Kroger’s Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation was launched in 2018 to support nonprofit organizations, social entrepreneurs, and creative thinkers who are focused on improving food security, ending food waste, and more, the release noted. In 2022, the retailer allocated $336 million to communities in food and funds, providing nearly 600 million meals to those in need.

In recognition of this contribution, Kroger’s Atlanta, Houston, Michigan, and Tennessee divisions will celebrate with a day of volunteering and service, sorting, organizing, and packing meals for their communities this month.

Congrats to Kroger on this impressive community impact! For more industry news, stay on the pages of ANUK.