In a bid to help Foodbank Australia address the 50 per cent increase in demand for support due to COVID-19, the maker of Leggo’s pasta sauce, Simplot Australia, has provided 85,500 jars of Napoletana pasta sauce.
Simplot MD Graham Dugdale said: “Foodbank is doing extraordinary work, particularly in these challenging times to provide nourishing food to the most vulnerable in our communities.
“Our company purpose ‘to contribute to feeding our world’ has never been as important as it is right now.”
While Foodbank has faced a massive increase to help those in need, it has faced a significant decrease in the supply of essential food items.
Dugdale says many suppliers have been running at capacity to respond to panic buying and stockpiling.
Foodbank CEO Brianna Casey says Leggo’s pasta sauce is one of the most requested products. “Knowing that it has been running off supermarket shelves in recent weeks makes these 85,500 jars seem that much more precious.
“It highlights the generosity of Simplot who have not only supported us day to day, but through drought, floods, bushfires and now COVID-19, we are thankful for their ongoing support.”
Simplot has supported Foodbank for eight years, which has seen more than one million jars of Leggo’s sauce provided to the service.
Foodbank helps vulnerable Australians access food and groceries, no matter what the crisis. Pre-COVID-19, the not-for-profit organisation was already providing food relief to more than 815,000 people a month, and that number is now growing by the day.
