Staff from logistics and supply chain specialist CHEP had a change of role recently when they manned the packaging line to prepare Christmas hampers for Australian families in need of festive cheer.
The CHEP team, led by the company's Australia and New Zealand president, Phillip Austin, spent a busy day at the NSW distribution centre of Foodbank, the non-profit organisation which acts as a pantry to the charities and community groups who feed the nation's hungry.
Austin's team packed over 500 Christmas hampers with goods provided by companies including Nestle, Unilever and Rinoldi, which are now destined to go to charities across NSW and the ACT, who will distribute them to families in need.
Foodbank CEO, John Webster, said that while CHEP's packaging efforts this year were appreciated, the company has also long played an important role in distributing Foodbank's hampers.
“CHEP is the unsung hero of Foodbank. The role CHEP plays underpins Foodbank’s supply chain nationally and without them we would simply be unable to move the food donated to where it’s needed,” he said.
“Last year CHEP’s contribution represented an in-kind donation of $800,000. CHEP helped us move 24,000 tonnes of food, providing more than 32 million meals to those in need.”
CHEP equipment is used to transport goods from Foodbank donors including growers, FMCG manufacturers or retailers across the country to Foodbank warehouses in NSW, QLD, VIC, SA, WA and NT and then out to charities in all states of Australia.
“In CHEP’s 18-year partnership with Foodbank, we estimate we’ve provided more than 300,000 pallets as well as bins and crates for fresh food,” CHEP's Austin said.
“We’re very pleased to be able to leverage the expertise within our business to help make a practical difference and right now we’re looking at ways we can further help in the fresh food space.”
As a response to its End Hunger 2012 Report, a focus for Foodbank going forward is to increase the amount of fresh food that it provides to charities. CHEP is a member of the Foodbank Fresh Produce Industry Group which is working to increase the volume of fresh fruit and vegetable donations.
