Social Impact
Using food as a force for good
Social Impact
Using food as a force for good
Making a difference, as well as yogurt
As we look at the world around us, it’s impossible to ignore the reality that access to nutritious food is not a given for everyone. And that is not acceptable. Our purpose as a leading food and drink manufacturer is to use our platforms, our resources and our influence to bridge that gap and create awareness of these issues – we want to make a difference, because good food is a right, not a privilege.
We understand that change doesn’t happen in isolation, it takes a collective effort. We work closely with our partners to fight food insecurity in our communities and (hopefully) inspire others to do the same. In the end, it’s not just about the food we create, it’s about the difference we make. It’s about taking steps towards real change.
How do we make a difference?
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Creating access to good food
We aim to increase reliable access to good nutritious food for Aussies in need.
Helping our communities
We seek to improve the livelihood (and wellness) of our communities where we have the means, skills and expertise.
Doing more good, together
We create opportunities for our team to give back and when we do – together, it’s magic.
Creating access to good food
We aim to increase reliable access to good nutritious food for Aussies in need.
Helping our communities
We seek to improve the livelihood (and wellness) of our communities where we have the means, skills and expertise.
Doing more good, together
We create opportunities for our team to give back and when we do – together, it’s magic.
Creating access to good food
In 2023, 3.7 million households in Australia ran out of food*. This is not acceptable. We’re keenly aware of our responsibility as a leading food and drink manufacturer – and of the ways we can channel our efforts and resources into ensuring all Australians have access to good food every day. But we know we can’t do this alone.
Meet our partners
Foodbank
We’re on a mission to use food a force for good and we’re lucky to have Foodbank by our side in this journey. We work closely together to make a real difference in our communities and help feed people in need. Since 2012, we’ve proudly donated the equivalent of almost 2 million meals to help with the essential work Foodbank does. And we’re always finding new ways to give back, from regular yogurt donations to special fundraising products, and even hosting emergency food drives in our warehouses.
Eat Up
In 2023, we launched our partnership with Eat Up Australia. Like Eat Up we understand how important a full belly is to a child’s ability to learn, grow and succeed. That’s why we donate of our delicious and nutritious yogurt pouches to accompany Eat Up’s lunch offering, boosting protein to help sustain energy for the remainder of the school day. But that’s not all. In 2023 our team came together for some epic sandwich making session and to date we’ve made 5,000 sandwiches for Eat Up with more sessions to come.
Helping our communities
Supporting and nourishing our communities is at the heart of our social impact strategy – thereby creating opportunities to lend a hand and help others grow.
Supporting local School Breakfast Clubs programs
Access to good food is a right, not a privilege. And we believe that every child deserves to start their day with the fuel they need to learn and grow. We began in 2013, by supporting Dandenong South Primary School’s Breakfast Clubs Program, providing Chobani Greek Yogurt and fresh fruit to students. And in 2022, we extended our reach to four more schools in Greater Dandenong, in the hopes of providing even more children in our community with the nourishment they need to flourish.
Helping our communities when they need it most
It’s in times of crisis or disaster that help matters most.
When the 2020 bushfires hit our communities, our team came together to raise much-needed funds for the Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund – with every employee donation being matched. And when the 2022 floods devastated Victoria, we lent a helping hand to Rural Aid and Eat Up – providing both financial aid and food relief to communities in flood-affected areas.
Sadly, the impacts of a disaster are still felt a long time after disaster strikes especially for rural, remote and regional communities. So, we teamed up with Rural Aid to help them ensure farming and rural community are safeguarded from the devastating impacts of a disaster before, during and after disaster strikes.
Refugees and people seeking asylum
“The moment a refugee gets a job is the moment they stop being a refugee.”
Hamdi Ulukaya
We’re committed to supporting our local community, including in and around the City of Greater Dandenong. We understand many residents come from parts of the world with recent histories of conflict and displacement which can create significant barriers in making Australia feel like home.
As part of this community, we believe in breaking down barriers and fostering a sense of belonging. That’s why we’ve partnered with the Deakin Centre for Refugee Employment Advocacy Training and Education to run career clinics. The career clinics operate based on a mentor/mentee model focused on building confidence and empowering individuals to secure meaningful employment in Australia. Together, we’re supporting refugees and people seeing asylum to navigate Australia’s employment landscape confidently, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to gain meaningful employment.
Because where there’s secure employment, there’s belonging, community and less susceptibility to food insecurity.
Doing more good, together
Rolling up our sleeves. Getting involved. Doing good work, together. It’s what gets our team out of bed in the morning. And we seize every opportunity to volunteer our time and help out.
Getting our team involved
Some of key volunteering initiatives include warehouse volunteering to pack meal orders for those in need, delivering yogurt to local community hub schools, harvesting crops for Food for Change, setting up and delivering pop-up markets for our local community, and making 5,000 sandwiches (so far!) for Aussie school kids.
Each week our team also lends their time to Dandenong South Primary’s School Book Club program, helping develop students’ literacy and numeracy skills.
