Safeway and Kraft Foods Donate 3 Million Meals and Nearly 362,000 Bags of Food to Fight Hunger in Communities Across the Country

Published on Thursday, 02 February 2012 12:11 Written by TradersHuddle Staff

PLEASANTON, Calif., Feb. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Safeway Inc. (NYSE: SWY) and Kraft Foods announced the culmination of the Help Us End Hunger (Every Bag Counts) food drive, a national program helping fight hunger in communities across the country.  With the help of generous Safeway customers, nearly 362,000 bags of groceries were secured for food banks and other hunger relief centers throughout the U.S.  In addition to helping provide products for the food drive, Kraft Foods donated the monetary equivalent of 3 million meals* –$420,000– to local food banks in Safeway's U.S. operating divisions.

Part of Kraft Foods' donation helps support the efforts of 100 Safeway stores that sold the most food drive bags for local food banks.  These "Top 100 Food Banks" will receive a monetary grant as part of Kraft Foods' three million meal donation.

The Help Us End Hunger (Every Bag Counts) food drive was central to Safeway's end-of-year giving initiative.  High-quality pantry staples were pre-selected and bagged, allowing customers to purchase the bag for a discounted price and place it in a donation barrel that went directly to a local food bank. 

"Hunger is a very serious issue in our country that often goes overlooked," said Larree Renda, Safeway Executive Vice President and Chair of the Safeway Foundation. "Sadly, more than 50 million Americans, or one in six of our neighbors, struggles to put food on their tables.  That's why we joined with Kraft Foods and encouraged our customers to help us tackle this problem.  The Help Us End Hunger (Every Bag Counts) food drive and Kraft Foods' meal donation meant that nearly 362,000 families in need had nutritious food."

Safeway is a longtime hunger relief advocate and an industry leader in environmental sustainability, ethical business practices and effective community outreach.  Safeway upholds an operating philosophy that is rooted in corporate social responsibility and focused on four key fundamentals: People, Products, Community, and the Planet. These fundamentals are "The Heart of Safeway," bringing together our passion for food and serving our customers with the rapidly developing needs of our communities and our planet.

Kraft Foods has a long-standing commitment to fighting hunger.  The three million meal donation for Help Us End Hunger (Every Bag Counts) is part of Kraft Foods' "Huddle to Fight Hunger," a program that has raised more than 25 million meals for Feeding America®, the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief organization.

About Safeway Inc. www.Safeway.com

Safeway Inc. is a Fortune 100 company and one of the largest food and drug retailers in North America, based on sales. The company operates 1,694 stores in the United States and western Canada and had annual sales of $41.1 billion in 2010. The company's common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol SWY.

About Kraft Foods

Kraft Foods is taking a stand when it comes to fighting hunger and promoting healthy lifestyles. The company and the Kraft Foods Foundation have donated nearly $1 billion in cash and food to organizations since 1990. Most recently, the company reinforced its commitment by donating $180 million over a three-year period to community involvement activities around the globe.

Kraft Foods Inc. (NYSE: KFT) is a global snacks powerhouse with an unrivaled portfolio of brands people love.  Proudly marketing delicious biscuits, confectionery, beverages, cheese, grocery products and convenient meals in approximately 170 countries, Kraft Foods had 2010 revenue of $49.2 billion.  Twelve of the company's iconic brands – Cadbury, Jacobs, Kraft, LU, Maxwell House, Milka, Nabisco, Oreo, Oscar Mayer, Philadelphia, Tang and Trident – generate revenue of more than $1 billion annually.  On Aug. 4, 2011, Kraft Foods announced plans to divide and create two independent public companies:  a high-growth global snacks business and a high-margin North American grocery business.  The transaction will take at least 12 months to complete, during which time plans regarding the structure, management, governance and other matters will be announced.  A leader in innovation, marketing, health & wellness and sustainability, Kraft Foods is a member of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Standard & Poor's 500, Dow Jones Sustainability Index and Ethibel Sustainability Index.  Visit www.kraftfoodscompany.com and www.facebook.com/kraftfoodscorporate.

About Feeding America

Feeding America provides low-income individuals and families with the fuel to survive and even thrive. As the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity, our network members supply food to more than 37 million Americans each year, including 14 million children and 3 million seniors. Serving the entire United States, more than 200 member food banks support 61,000 agencies that address hunger in all of its forms. For more information on how you can fight hunger in your community and across the country, visit http://www.feedingamerica.org. Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/FeedingAmerica or follow our news on Twitter at twitter.com/FeedingAmerica.

* The monetary equivalent of meals has been donated. The cost of one meal = $.14 secured by Feeding America on behalf of local food banks.

Contacts:

Teena Massingill, Safeway

925-467-3810

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Rachel Larsen, Kraft Foods

847-646-4538

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SOURCE Safeway Inc.