Atlantic Superstore® locations continue to support FEED NOVA SCOTIA and local food banks to
help fight hunger across the province
HALIFAX, April 2, 2014 /CNW/ - Today Atlantic Superstore® locations announced their Extra Helping™ Spring Food Drive which runs from Thursday, April 3 to Thursday, April
24. Food banks provide our neighbours in need with food essentials. To
help address the need for donations, Atlantic Superstore®, SaveEasy® and nofrills® stores across the province are calling on Nova Scotians to donate
non-perishable food items and funds at checkout.
"As Canada's largest food retailer, we believe we have a responsibility
to help in the fight against hunger in Nova Scotia," says Mark
Boudreau, director, Corporate Affairs (Atlantic Canada), Loblaw
Companies Limited. "We are active in the communities in which we
operate, and with the generous support of our local customers and store
colleagues, this is just one way we can make a real difference for
those in need."
According to FEED NOVA SCOTIA an estimated 21,760 Nova Scotians rely on
a food bank in an average month. Thirty-two per cent of these are
children.
"Hunger is a year round reality for far too many families," says Dianne
Swinemar, executive director, FEED NOVA SCOTIA. "The Spring Extra Helping™ Food Drive helps us replenish our stock and, together with our over 150
member agencies, fight hunger in communities across Nova Scotia. Adding
just one item to the food donation bin or a few extra dollars to your
grocery bill makes a big difference to local families in need."
What should customers add to their shopping list? According to FEED NOVA
SCOTIA much needed non-perishable items include canned vegetables,
fruit, meat and fish; flour and sugar; pasta; peanut butter; baked
beans; canned or powdered milk; soups and stews; and breakfast cereal.
One hundred per cent of food donations and 85 per cent of cash donations
will go directly to local food banks within each participating store's
community, while the remaining 15 per cent of donated cash will support
provincial food bank programs. Thanks to the support and generosity of
customers, in 2013, the Extra Helping™ Food Drive raised more than $1.9 million in funds and over 1.5 million
pounds of food for food banks across the country. Loblaw Companies
Limited and its banner stores hope to raise $1.8 million and 1.8
million pounds of food in 2014.
Loblaw grocery stores have a long history of supporting food banks in
their local communities. In 2009, the Company rebranded its efforts
under the Extra Helping™ Food Drive, a bi-annual, national campaign to reduce hunger. Since then
Loblaw stores have raised more than $7.5 million and more than 7.8
million pounds of food. In addition, through annual corporate
donations, Loblaw Companies has contributed $1.37 million to date to
Food Banks Canada in support of their National Food Sharing Program.
Loblaw corporate and franchised stores participating in the campaign
operate under the following corporate and franchise banners: Loblaws®, Fortinos®, Zehrs Markets®, Your Independent Grocer®, valu-mart®, nofrills®, Extra Foods®, Dominion® (Newfoundland and Labrador), SaveEasy®, Provigo®, Maxi®, Maxi & Cie®, select Wholesale Club™stores, Club EntrepôtMC, Atlantic Superstore® and Real Canadian Superstore® and select Shop Easy Foods® and Super Valu® stores.
About FEED NOVA SCOTIA
FEED NOVA SCOTIA is a registered charitable organization whose mission
is to alleviate the effects of poverty on Nova Scotians. The
organization plays a key role in feeding hungry people by collecting
and distributing more than two million kilograms of donated food each
year (valued at over $12 million) to a network of over 150 food banks,
shelters and meal programs across the province. FEED NOVA SCOTIA is
also actively engaged with research, awareness and advocacy-related
initiatives that seek to address the root causes of hunger and poverty.
About Loblaw Companies Limited
Loblaw Companies Limited is Canada's food and pharmacy leader, the
nation's largest retailer, and the majority unitholder of Choice
Properties Real Estate Investment Trust. Loblaw provides Canadians with
grocery, pharmacy, health and beauty, apparel, general merchandise,
banking, and wireless mobile products and services. With more than
2,300 corporate, franchised and Associate-owned locations, Loblaw, its
franchisees, and Associate-owners employ approximately 192,000 full-
and part-time employees, making it one of Canada's largest private
sector employers.
Loblaw's purpose - Live Life Well - puts first the needs and well-being of Canadians who make one billion
transactions annually in the companies' stores. Loblaw is positioned to
meet and exceed those needs in many ways: convenient locations; more
than 1,050 grocery stores that span the value spectrum from discount to
specialty; full-service pharmacies at more than 1,250 Shoppers Drug
Mart and Pharmaprix locations and more than 500 Loblaw locations;
no-fee banking with PC Financial; affordable Joe Fresh fashion and
family apparel; and three of Canada's top consumer brands in Life
Brand®, no name® and President's Choice®. Through the PC Plus™ and
Shoppers Optimum® loyalty programs, more than one in every three
Canadians are rewarded for shopping with the companies.
SOURCE Loblaw Companies Limited
