Salt Lake City, Utah-based Associated Food Stores and more than 200 member retailers are kicking off Feeding the Hungry, a collaborative effort between local, independently-owned retailers, AFS-sponsored vendors and local food pantries. The drive takes place Jan. 26 through Feb. 8.
The campaign has two main components – the first, an icon drive held within stores where customers can donate any amount they choose to contribute to their local food pantry. With the second option, customers can look for the blue Feeding the Hungry shelf tags, where a portion of their purchase on sponsored items is contributed toward the drive.
“Last year, after all the donations and sponsored items were tallied, a total of $301,000 was donated to local food banks and pantries to help those living with food insecurity. This is an incredibly meaningful effort, and I am glad that as local grocers we can come together to make a difference in the communities we serve,” said Derid Kunz, director of center store sales at Associated Food Stores.
Participating sponsors of the event this year include: Kraft Heinz, C.H. Robinson, La Victoria, ConAgra Foods, Hershey’s, Skippy, General Mills, Church & Dwight Co. Inc, Pepsi, CocaCola, Hormel, Fat Boy, Colgate, Blue Diamond Growers, Acosta, Bar S, Mondelez International, Pompeian, Ghirardelli, Tootsie Roll, P&G, Frito Lay, Kodiak Cakes, Herdez, Starr Ranch, Mancini Rodon and Post.
This year, the independently owned grocers hope to exceed the donations from last year, with a goal to fundraise $350k in donations total.
Associated Food Stores is an independent retailer-owned warehouse, providing complete warehouse facilities and retail services to nearly 500 grocers throughout the Intermountain West. Started in 1940, when 34 retailers joined to battle high supplier costs and chain competition, members of Associated Food Stores continue fulfilling the mission of the original member owners more than 80 years later.
For more information, visit afstores.com.
