Hannaford Supermarkets donated nearly 29 million pounds of food to local food banks and pantries across the Northeast in 2025 — a record for the grocer and a 15 percent increase over its 2022 donation total. The contributions equate to 24 million meals for food-insecure individuals across Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Massachusetts and Vermont.
Fresh Rescue program
The donations flow primarily through Hannaford’s Fresh Rescue program, which operates across all 188 stores. Each day, store associates identify unsold but safe food – including bruised produce, items with damaged packaging and meat or dairy near its sell-by date – for pickup by at least one local pantry partner. In 2025, the program served eight regional food banks and more than 450 partner organizations.
Hannaford President Mike Vail said the record reflects both operational investment and cultural commitment. “At Hannaford, our commitment to nourishing our communities goes beyond the shelves of our stores. Our associates work in tandem with trusted community partners to help ensure nutritious food reaches our neighbors in need every day. We’re proud to do our part to expand food access for families throughout the region and help families thrive,” Vail said.
Jon Fortier, store manager at the Hannaford in China, Maine and Fresh Rescue Champion for all Maine stores, described the daily execution behind the numbers. “Whether it’s carefully sorting fresh produce or coordinating with our community partners, our teams are committed to making a meaningful difference and ensuring that nutritious food reaches those who need it most,” Fortier said.
State-by-state breakdown
Hannaford’s 2025 food donations by state and partner organization:
- Maine: 13 million pounds (11 million meals) — Good Shepherd Food Bank
- New York: 6.5 million pounds (5.4 million meals) — Food Bank of Central New York and Regional Food Bank
- New Hampshire: 5 million pounds (4 million meals) — New Hampshire Food Bank
- Vermont: 2.5 million pounds (2 million meals) — Vermont Foodbank
- Massachusetts: 2 million pounds (1.6 million meals) — Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, The Greater Boston Food Bank and Worcester County Food Bank
[RELATED: Hannaford Commits $100K Toward Youth Food Access In ME, NY]
Growing need across the region
The record donation comes as hunger relief organizations report rising demand. Nationally, 48 million people live in food-insecure households, and 1 in 5 children in the U.S. faces food insecurity.
Heather Paquette, president of Good Shepherd Food Bank in Maine, said the consistency of Hannaford’s program is what makes it valuable to the state’s pantry network. “Their Fresh Rescue program provides a steady source of high-quality free food for charitable food programs across the state who are serving the more than 190,000 Mainers who live with food insecurity,” Paquette said.
In addition to food donations, Hannaford invested nearly $2 million in hunger relief organizations across the region in 2025, including programs focused on expanding access to fresh, locally grown food.
