Mars Food & Nutrition Australia is increasing its support for Foodbank Australia once again, helping to provide 4.4 million meals to Australians experiencing food insecurity in 2026, as frontline charities struggle to cope with rising demand.
Rising fuel prices are compounding existing cost-of-living pressures, increasing demand for critical food relief services nationwide. The Mars Food & Nutrition Australia Collaborative Supply Program began as a COVID-19 solution to provide Foodbank Australia with a consistent and reliable supply of pantry staples. Since 2021, it has grown into a long-term, strategic partnership.
By the end of 2026, more than 16.1 million meals will have been provided to Australians in need through the program.
Mars Food & Nutrition Australia general manager, Bill Heague, said the Collaborative Supply Program would help more Australian families as fuel prices add to the cost of living strains.
“A third of Australians are affected by food insecurity. As an industry, we have an opportunity, and a responsibility, to contribute to solutions,” said Heague.
“The growth of this program shows what’s possible when the entire supply chain comes together with a shared purpose. Our partnership with Foodbank has moved well beyond traditional donations. By working closely with Foodbank, we’ve been able to refine how we deliver products, ensuring they meet real community needs while maximising efficiency and impact.”
This year will see a significant expansion of the initiative across participating companies, with Toll Group joining Mainfreight as logistics suppliers, while FMCG suppliers Abaris, Baker & Co, Cargill, Cheetham, FarmFirst, Ingredion, KL Ballantyne Pty Ltd, Logos Packaging, Mondi Packaging, Morning Star, Opal Packaging, and Tate & Lyle will help to strengthen the program’s ability to deliver essential pantry staples at scale.
Foodbank CEO, Kylea Tink, said that as Australia’s largest food relief charity, Foodbank relies on the Mars Food & Nutrition Australia partnership.
“With the latest data showing more than half of Australians struggling to put food on the table in April, partnerships like this are quite literally life changing – not only for those who receive the product but for us as an organisation,” said Tink.
“It shows just how impactful true collaborations can be in this space. Enabling our service to move from a reliance on donations, to one focused on distributing product, which is created via a shared values model, is literally tipping the scales in favour of Australians who are doing it tough. We could not be more grateful to the Mars Food & Nutrition Australia team for their leadership in this area.
“We’d encourage any business thinking of getting involved in supporting Australian families this way to seriously consider the Mars Food & Nutrition Australia model as, in terms of value for money and impact, it simply does not get any better,” she said.
At the heart of the Collaborative Supply Program is Dolmio, with donated products including Australian favourites Dolmio Extra Bolognese and Carbonara sauces. This year Mars Food & Nutrition Australia will also donate MasterFoods Beef Stroganoff, Butter Chicken, Honey Soy Garlic and Curried Sausages Recipe Bases, as well as Ben’s Original Special Fried Rice and Mexican Style Rice, to ensure Foodbank can offer a variety of meals through the Collaborative Supply Program.
