Supporting food security: Partnering with Eat Up Australia

A group of people preparing sandwiches in a community kitchen setting, with trays of wrapped sandwiches in the foreground. The image is overlaid with green graphics and text that reads 'Aligning your CSR,' indicating a focus on corporate social responsibility activities." This image shows a community kitchen where people are preparing sandwiches. The trays of wrapped sandwiches in the foreground suggest a large-scale effort, likely for a charitable cause. The text "Aligning your CSR" highlights the relevance of corporate social responsibility, making this image interesting for businesses looking to engage in community service initiatives.

Food insecurity is one of the leading socio-economic issues affecting many people across Australia. The Foodbank Hunger Report 2024 revealed that 3.4 million Australian households ran out of food in the year prior. 

Yet, despite this, support for food relief has continued to decline. While certain socio-economic groups are more vulnerable to food insecurity, circumstances can quickly change for individuals, and anyone can unexpectedly find themselves in need. This often results in children attending school without lunch.

After learning that children in his hometown of Shepparton were going hungry at school, Lyndon Galea, the founder and co-CEO of Eat Up, resolved to take action. This was 2013.

Since then, Eat Up Australia has grown into a national organisation that is more relevant now than ever. “We hear directly from schools that the cost-of-living crisis is putting enormous pressure on families. If you don’t pay the rent, you’re out of the house. If you don’t pay the electricity bill, the lights turn off. So, most often, food and groceries are cut first. Sadly, this means children are arriving at school without any food,” Lyndon explained.

Lyndon Galea standing in front of a colorful Eat Up van featuring illustrations of fruits and vegetables, promoting the healthy eating initiative.

The real impact of this problem lies in its consequences. Research has shown that poor nutrition and hunger impair academic performance and can lead to adverse health outcomes.

As a global leader in the foodservice sector, Bidfood plays a vital role in how people access food. But beyond the scope of our immediate operations, we see food security as an issue that must be addressed on a broader level. That’s why when the chance arose to partner with Eat Up, we embraced this opportunity wholeheartedly.

The Bidfood/Eat Up partnership began in 2021, with home bases at the Botany, Brisbane and Perth branches – where we donate cool room space to safely store Eat Up’s supplies before they are delivered to thousands of schoolchildren each week. We also donate more than 630,000 cheese slices each year and regularly organise volunteer sessions, during which our team prepares over 1,000 sandwiches per session. Through this partnership, we have helped Eat Up achieve the remarkable milestone of providing more than 3 million free lunches to students across the country.

Right now, the need for these free lunches is at an all-time high. “Eat Up’s purpose has never been more relevant than in the past year,” Mirian Dexter, co-CEO at Eat Up Australia, said. “As the effects of Australia’s cost of living crisis increase, it highlights how vulnerable hungry kids are becoming.”

This challenge has been met head-on by the remarkable team at Eat Up. Miriam Dexter elaborated on this achievement. “In the past financial year, we have met increased demand from existing schools and added new schools into our program, delivering a 47% year-on-year increase in the number of lunches we make and deliver. We are now providing more than a million sandwiches nationally each year.”

"Two individuals holding a crate filled with food items, including sandwiches, apples, and various packaged snacks, standing in front of colorful artwork featuring the Earth and children's handprints.

But the real success of the Bidfood/Eat Up partnership is all about leveraging our core business resources and capabilities. By focusing on what we do best – logistics and foodservice – we create a meaningful impact where it is needed most. This sentiment is highlighted by Eat Up. “Bidfood’s support in providing Eat Up with cool storage space and cheese has been critical to ensuring we can meet the growing need for our lunches while keeping them fresh for hungry kids so they can learn, grow and succeed at school,” Miriam graciously remarked.

When a business chooses causes that resonate with its core values and strengths, it will create more meaningful contributions, build stronger community connections and reinforce the positive impact of its business practices.

Nestlé’s KitKat partnership with R U OK? is another example of how corporate social responsibility efforts are amplified when thoughtfully aligned with a business’s core brand strengths. By incorporating the message “Have a break and ask, ‘Are you OK?’” into KitKat’s existing brand messaging, this campaign encourages meaningful conversations about mental health by leveraging existing IP and a familiar product.

Strategically aligning your business’s strengths with impactful causes will not only drive meaningful change but may also enhance the purpose and legacy of the brand by promoting the core operations’ strengths. And any business can do it – it’s as simple as reflecting on your organisation’s unique capabilities and exploring partnerships that align with your values.

If you are interested in supporting Eat Up Australia, head over to their website today.