logo
Celebrating the 2025 Food Banks Canada Partner Awards

Celebrating the 2025 Food Banks Canada Partner Awards

Cision Canada21-07-2025
Honouring the organizations whose extraordinary commitments supporting the mission of relieving hunger today and preventing hunger tomorrow
TORONTO, July 21, 2025 /CNW/ - In 2024, thanks to its valued partners and donors, Food Banks Canada was able to distribute millions of pounds of food across the country and invest millions of dollars in food banks and other community organizations serving people experiencing food insecurity.
Food Banks Canada's Partner Awards program shines a spotlight on remarkable contributors to these collective achievements. The honorees were selected based on their total contributions in 2024, the significance of their impact, and their engagement with our mission of relieving hunger today and preventing hunger tomorrow.
"At Food Banks Canada, our partners are the driving force behind everything we do," says Kirstin Beardsley, Chief Executive Officer Food Banks Canada. "Thanks to their unwavering support, we're able to deliver high-quality food to those facing hunger, strengthen the capacity of food banks across the country, and take meaningful steps toward addressing the root causes of food insecurity."
Beardsley adds, "The recipients of the 2024 Food Banks Canada Awards have gone above and beyond in their commitment to ending hunger in Canada. We're deeply grateful for their partnership and look forward to continuing this vital work together—raising the bar higher every year."
Food Banks Canada is excited to celebrate the following award recipients:
Product Partner of the Year
To meet clients' needs and fill gaps in food donations, food banks are now buying more food than ever before. Kraft Heinz offers relief from that budgetary strain by providing a consistent supply of high-demand products, such as pasta sauce, and nutrient-rich products, such as peanut butter.
In 2024, Kraft Heinz gifted almost two million pounds of newly produced food to food banks across Canada. It was delivered at regular intervals, meaning that food banks and the people they serve could count on these products. To organizations and families that face a great deal of uncertainty, the significance of a predictable supply of staple products is hard to overstate.
Services In-Kind Partner of the Year
In-kind services such as food transportation and warehousing are essential to Food Banks Canada as they work to distribute large-scale food donations throughout the national network of food banks.
In 2024, Lineage Logistics played a vital role in the food supply chain by providing temperature-controlled warehousing and logistics solutions. Their ongoing partnership with Food Banks Canada provides the storage required to preserve and keep food before it reaches the people who need it most. Lineage Logistics also donates excess food in collaboration with their partners, further adding to their valuable contribution.
Funding Partner of the Year
Food bank use has almost doubled since 2019. Food Banks Canada relies on strong, long-term partnerships to help food banks grow their capacity and rise to this urgent challenge. In 2024, Walmart Canada renewed their partnership with Food Banks Canada to execute their annual Fight Hunger. Spark Change fundraising campaign, which directs millions of dollars to local food banks and supports Food Banks Canada's national mission each year. Walmart is also one of the founding partners of its Retail Food Program, which provides an ongoing stream of nutritious food donations from local stores.
So far, through these programs and others, Walmart Canada has helped to bring the equivalent of over 200 million meals to our neighbours in need!
Foundation Partner of the Year
As the last line of defense against hunger, food banks should be accessible to each and every person who needs them. Yet, our research shows that there are millions of people in Canada facing barriers to access, such as a lack of transportation, opening hours that aren't compatible with their work schedules, or even stigma and shame.
With financial support from the Rossy Foundation, Food Banks Canada's Access Grants empower food banks to break down barriers and increase access for all. The Rossy Foundation also supports our Capacity Boost grants, Northern Capacity Grants and Standards of Excellence Grants, all of which help food banks and community organizations to expand or upgrade their reach, infrastructure and services. These investments in Food Banks Canada's programs help equip food banks to meet the needs of both today and tomorrow.
Growth Partner of the Year
7-Eleven Canada has been a dedicated partner to Food Banks Canada since 2013. Customers look forward to the annual Slurpee Name Your Price Day, during which they can pay any amount for a large Slurpee, with all proceeds supporting Food Banks Canada.
This past year, 7-Eleven Canada more than doubled its significant annual donations with a round-up program, asking customers to support the food bank network by rounding up their purchase amount in support of Food Banks Canada. 7-Eleven Canada also collaborates with their vendors to add to their support and expand their partnership with Food Banks Canada year over year.
New Partner of the Year
Food Banks Canada is delighted to welcome Maple Lodge Farms as its new partner of the year. They've been enthusiastic and flexible, open to exploring new ideas to step up for our communities. Food Banks Canada was proud to be chosen as the primary beneficiary of Maple Lodge Farms' 2024 Tournament of Dreams golf fundraiser. In addition to $200,000 in proceeds, Maple Lodge Farms also donates their chicken product to food banks to support families and communities in need. These quality protein foods are extremely valuable to food banks, which aim to offer well-rounded nutrition to their clients.
About Food Banks Canada
Food Banks Canada is the leader in addressing food insecurity in Canada. Our mission is to provide national leadership to relieve hunger today and prevent hunger tomorrow in collaboration with the food bank network from coast to coast to coast. For over 40 years, food banks have been dedicated to helping people living in Canada with food insecurity. Over 5,500 food banks and community organizations come together to serve our most vulnerable neighbours, who – this year – made over 2 million visits to these organizations in one month alone, according to our HungerCount report. Since 2010, Food Banks Canada has shared over $1 billion in food supports and over $275 million in funding to help maximize collective impact and strengthen local capacity – while, backed by leading research, advocating for meaningful actions from governments to counter hunger and its root causes. Our vision is clear: create a Canada where no one goes hungry. Visit foodbankscanada.ca to learn more.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Warren Buffett Owns 10 High-Yield Dividend Stocks. Here's the Best of the Bunch.
Warren Buffett Owns 10 High-Yield Dividend Stocks. Here's the Best of the Bunch.

Globe and Mail

time4 days ago

  • Globe and Mail

Warren Buffett Owns 10 High-Yield Dividend Stocks. Here's the Best of the Bunch.

Key Points Warren Buffett's company Berkshire Hathaway has never paid a dividend. That hasn't stopped Buffett and his team from investing in several high-yielding stocks. Dividends can make stocks with long turnarounds ahead much more attractive. 10 stocks we like better than Realty Income › Warren Buffett's company Berkshire Hathaway has never paid shareholders a dividend while under Buffett's leadership. The primary reason is because Buffett believed he could find better ways to invest the capital -- and he was definitely right. Berkshire's returns have crushed the broader benchmark S&P 500 index over many decades, and many people regard Buffett as the best investor of all time. While never paying a dividend, Buffett and his team of investors have never been afraid to invest in high-yielding stocks. They often look for companies in turnaround mode -- but they pay nice dividends to compensate investors for their time. Buffett and Berkshire own nine high-yielding stocks. Here's the best of the bunch. Three are top 20 positions Three of Berkshire's top 20 equity holdings warrant attention: Kraft Heinz (NASDAQ: KHC), Sirius XM (NASDAQ: SIRI), and Chevron (NYSE: CVX), which have dividend yields of roughly 5.6%, 4.5%, and 4.5%, respectively. Kraft Heinz is largely viewed as one of Buffett's most disappointing investments. Buffett first acquired a stake in Heinz in 2013 when he partnered with the Brazilian private equity firm 3G to buy the company. The two parties then worked together in 2015 to merge Kraft and Heinz in a $49 billion transaction. Since then, the stock hasn't performed well and is down another roughly 4.7% this year (as of July 23). More recently, Berkshire has given up its seats on the board at Kraft Heinz and there is speculation that the company may soon break up. Sirius is a position that Berkshire added to heavily in recent years. The large digital audio company, which owns Sirius XM and the Pandora music streaming business, is considered one of the few legal monopolies but it looks like it will have a lengthy turnaround ahead after declining 30% during the past year. The large U.S. oil and gas producer Chevron is part of a growing number of energy assets that Buffett and Berkshire have gobbled up in recent years. Berkshire clearly thinks the price of oil is going higher long term and may also view energy as an asset that will be in high demand during the coming decades. Chevron, which is down about 4% during the past year, has increased its dividend for 38 straight years and is certainly a dividend gem. Buffett's "secret portfolio" While you can't see Buffett's other seven high-yielding dividend stocks in Berkshire's filings, the company, in essence, has a "secret portfolio" in New England Asset Management (NEAM), which is not directly managed by Berkshire. In 1998, Berkshire came to own NEAM via its acquisition of General Re, which bought NEAM in 1995. Here are the seven high-yielding dividend stocks in NEAM and their perspective dividend yields (as of July 23): Golub Capital BDC (NASDAQ: GBDC) -- 10.2% Ares Capital (NASDAQ: ARCC) -- 8.4% Pfizer -- 6.8% Realty Income (NYSE: O) -- 5.6% Bristol Myers Squibb -- 5.2% Campbell's -- 4.8% Lamar Advertising -- 5% You'll notice a few themes in this bunch. Golub and Ares are business development companies (BDCs), which are known for paying high dividends due to their unique corporate structure as regulated investment companies. If these companies pay out at least 90% of their taxable income to shareholders through dividends, they avoid paying corporate taxes. As a real estate investment trust (REIT), Realty Income has the same deal. Pfizer and Bristol Myers are both pharmaceutical stocks, which can also pay hearty dividends. The best of the bunch Although its stock has not performed great during the past five years, Realty Income is the best of the bunch, in my opinion, especially from an income perspective. Sure, there are some REITS and BDCs with much higher yields, but their payouts can fluctuate with earnings. As a REIT, Realty Income stands out in terms of consistent performance. It mainly operates a triple-net-lease model in which it rents its properties to tenants who pay maintenance and upgrade costs, property taxes, and insurance. In return, tenants may be able to negotiate more favorable terms and also have more control over the spaces they rent, which can be helpful for businesses. Realty Income specifically focuses on non-discretionary, low-price-point, and service-oriented tenants like 7-Eleven, Dollar General, and Walgreens, among many others. The company is also getting involved in higher-growth sectors, like gaming and data centers, while also looking to expand its geographic reach in Europe. As for the dividend, Realty Income is as reliable as they come, which is perhaps why the company's slogan is, "The Monthly Dividend Company." Since going public in 1994, Realty Income has increased its quarterly dividend for 110 consecutive quarters. The dividend has grown at a 4.3% compound annual growth rate and looks very sustainable. In 2024, Realty Income paid out about $3.13 of dividends per share and generated adjusted funds from operations (AFFO), which is basically like cash flow for REITs, of $4.19, giving it room to spare. Should you invest $1,000 in Realty Income right now? Before you buy stock in Realty Income, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Realty Income wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $634,627!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,046,799!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,037% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 182% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of July 21, 2025 Bram Berkowitz has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Berkshire Hathaway, Bristol Myers Squibb, Chevron, Pfizer, and Realty Income. The Motley Fool recommends Campbell's and Kraft Heinz. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Celebrating the 2025 Food Banks Canada Partner Awards
Celebrating the 2025 Food Banks Canada Partner Awards

Cision Canada

time21-07-2025

  • Cision Canada

Celebrating the 2025 Food Banks Canada Partner Awards

Honouring the organizations whose extraordinary commitments supporting the mission of relieving hunger today and preventing hunger tomorrow TORONTO, July 21, 2025 /CNW/ - In 2024, thanks to its valued partners and donors, Food Banks Canada was able to distribute millions of pounds of food across the country and invest millions of dollars in food banks and other community organizations serving people experiencing food insecurity. Food Banks Canada's Partner Awards program shines a spotlight on remarkable contributors to these collective achievements. The honorees were selected based on their total contributions in 2024, the significance of their impact, and their engagement with our mission of relieving hunger today and preventing hunger tomorrow. "At Food Banks Canada, our partners are the driving force behind everything we do," says Kirstin Beardsley, Chief Executive Officer Food Banks Canada. "Thanks to their unwavering support, we're able to deliver high-quality food to those facing hunger, strengthen the capacity of food banks across the country, and take meaningful steps toward addressing the root causes of food insecurity." Beardsley adds, "The recipients of the 2024 Food Banks Canada Awards have gone above and beyond in their commitment to ending hunger in Canada. We're deeply grateful for their partnership and look forward to continuing this vital work together—raising the bar higher every year." Food Banks Canada is excited to celebrate the following award recipients: Product Partner of the Year To meet clients' needs and fill gaps in food donations, food banks are now buying more food than ever before. Kraft Heinz offers relief from that budgetary strain by providing a consistent supply of high-demand products, such as pasta sauce, and nutrient-rich products, such as peanut butter. In 2024, Kraft Heinz gifted almost two million pounds of newly produced food to food banks across Canada. It was delivered at regular intervals, meaning that food banks and the people they serve could count on these products. To organizations and families that face a great deal of uncertainty, the significance of a predictable supply of staple products is hard to overstate. Services In-Kind Partner of the Year In-kind services such as food transportation and warehousing are essential to Food Banks Canada as they work to distribute large-scale food donations throughout the national network of food banks. In 2024, Lineage Logistics played a vital role in the food supply chain by providing temperature-controlled warehousing and logistics solutions. Their ongoing partnership with Food Banks Canada provides the storage required to preserve and keep food before it reaches the people who need it most. Lineage Logistics also donates excess food in collaboration with their partners, further adding to their valuable contribution. Funding Partner of the Year Food bank use has almost doubled since 2019. Food Banks Canada relies on strong, long-term partnerships to help food banks grow their capacity and rise to this urgent challenge. In 2024, Walmart Canada renewed their partnership with Food Banks Canada to execute their annual Fight Hunger. Spark Change fundraising campaign, which directs millions of dollars to local food banks and supports Food Banks Canada's national mission each year. Walmart is also one of the founding partners of its Retail Food Program, which provides an ongoing stream of nutritious food donations from local stores. So far, through these programs and others, Walmart Canada has helped to bring the equivalent of over 200 million meals to our neighbours in need! Foundation Partner of the Year As the last line of defense against hunger, food banks should be accessible to each and every person who needs them. Yet, our research shows that there are millions of people in Canada facing barriers to access, such as a lack of transportation, opening hours that aren't compatible with their work schedules, or even stigma and shame. With financial support from the Rossy Foundation, Food Banks Canada's Access Grants empower food banks to break down barriers and increase access for all. The Rossy Foundation also supports our Capacity Boost grants, Northern Capacity Grants and Standards of Excellence Grants, all of which help food banks and community organizations to expand or upgrade their reach, infrastructure and services. These investments in Food Banks Canada's programs help equip food banks to meet the needs of both today and tomorrow. Growth Partner of the Year 7-Eleven Canada has been a dedicated partner to Food Banks Canada since 2013. Customers look forward to the annual Slurpee Name Your Price Day, during which they can pay any amount for a large Slurpee, with all proceeds supporting Food Banks Canada. This past year, 7-Eleven Canada more than doubled its significant annual donations with a round-up program, asking customers to support the food bank network by rounding up their purchase amount in support of Food Banks Canada. 7-Eleven Canada also collaborates with their vendors to add to their support and expand their partnership with Food Banks Canada year over year. New Partner of the Year Food Banks Canada is delighted to welcome Maple Lodge Farms as its new partner of the year. They've been enthusiastic and flexible, open to exploring new ideas to step up for our communities. Food Banks Canada was proud to be chosen as the primary beneficiary of Maple Lodge Farms' 2024 Tournament of Dreams golf fundraiser. In addition to $200,000 in proceeds, Maple Lodge Farms also donates their chicken product to food banks to support families and communities in need. These quality protein foods are extremely valuable to food banks, which aim to offer well-rounded nutrition to their clients. About Food Banks Canada Food Banks Canada is the leader in addressing food insecurity in Canada. Our mission is to provide national leadership to relieve hunger today and prevent hunger tomorrow in collaboration with the food bank network from coast to coast to coast. For over 40 years, food banks have been dedicated to helping people living in Canada with food insecurity. Over 5,500 food banks and community organizations come together to serve our most vulnerable neighbours, who – this year – made over 2 million visits to these organizations in one month alone, according to our HungerCount report. Since 2010, Food Banks Canada has shared over $1 billion in food supports and over $275 million in funding to help maximize collective impact and strengthen local capacity – while, backed by leading research, advocating for meaningful actions from governments to counter hunger and its root causes. Our vision is clear: create a Canada where no one goes hungry. Visit to learn more.

Kraft Heinz seeks to revive old brands by undoing 2015 mega-merger
Kraft Heinz seeks to revive old brands by undoing 2015 mega-merger

CTV News

time21-07-2025

  • CTV News

Kraft Heinz seeks to revive old brands by undoing 2015 mega-merger

The Kraft logo appears outside of the headquarters on in Northfield, Ill. on Wednesday, March 25, 2015. (AP / Nam Y. Huh) Kraft Heinz's potential spinoff of slower-growing brands such as Velveeta cheese is a risky last-ditch effort to boost returns by reversing its unsuccessful decade-old merger. The Chicago- and Pittsburgh-based foodmaker is studying a potential spinoff of a large chunk of its grocery business, including many Kraft products, into a new entity, a source said on July 11, confirming a report in the Wall Street Journal. That entity could be valued at up to US$20 billion on its own, which would make it the biggest deal in consumer goods so far this year. The company declined to comment on the move. Shares in the food maker have lost about two-thirds of their value since Kraft and H.J. Heinz merged in 2015 in a deal backed by Warren Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway that was aimed at cutting costs and growing the brands internationally. U.S. consumers, however, have been spending less on increasingly expensive name-brand packaged food after the pandemic. In addition, Kraft Heinz's convenience-oriented products like its Lunchables meal kit face scrutiny in the United States, its biggest market, amid the rise of the Make America Healthy Again or MAHA social movement led by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The $33.3 billion market-cap company said in May that it was 'evaluating potential strategic transactions to unlock shareholder value' as executives from Berkshire Hathaway left its board, most likely after losing faith in the food maker, bankers said. The potential move, yet to be confirmed by Kraft Heinz, would likely undo the approximately $45 billion 2015 merger, though the details of how the company's roughly 200 brands would be split up are unclear. It also is not a sure bet for investors, because they would reap the most value only if acquirers step in to buy either of the new companies, analysts said. Kraft Heinz's condiments division, led by ketchup brand Heinz and Philadelphia cream cheese, posted $11.4 billion in sales last year and has room to grow internationally. On a standalone basis, it would likely command a higher multiple than what the overall company is currently trading at, making it more valuable, analysts and bankers said. The rest of Kraft Heinz's products - with sales of $14.5 billion from legacy brands such as Oscar Mayer which face competition from cheaper private-label options - would likely be valued in line with the whole company, which currently trades just below nine times its earnings. Kraft Heinz did not immediately return a request for comment. Risky path This path is dicey because the separation alone may create only a small benefit for investors, according to analysts and investment bankers. Bigger returns hinge on Kraft Heinz eventually finding a buyer - and a premium - for either of its two businesses. 'It doesn't look like there's a whole lot of upside,' said Bank of America analyst Peter Galbo. 'It really is reliant on an acquisition down the line.' Kraft Heinz's board and management may have looked at the breakup of the Kellogg Co as a success story they could replicate, investment bankers said. Earlier this month, European candy maker Ferrero agreed to acquire Kellogg Co's cereal business, WK Kellogg KLG.N, for $3.1 billion. Last year, Mars scooped up Kellogg Co's other business, Pringles maker Kellanova K.N, for about $36 billion. Possible acquirers for the condiments business could be spice and hot sauce-maker McCormick Co MKC.N, Unilever ULVR.L or Nestle NESN.S, investment bankers said. McCormick declined to comment. Unilever and Nestle did not respond to requests for comment. The slower-growing Kraft-oriented business could meanwhile garner interest from another company that wants to build up its clout with grocers like Walmart WMT.N and KrogerKR.N, said Dave Wagner, a portfolio manager at Aptus Capital, which holds Kraft Heinz shares in an exchange-traded fund. But Wagner said finding buyers in a challenged segment may not be easy. Sales across the entire food maker fell 3% in 2024, and the company slashed its forecasts for sales and profit for the rest of this year. 'If you keep the company as it is now or split it, both are going to have some type of black eye,' Wagner said. 'They probably wouldn't be tier one acquisition targets.' (Reporting by Jessica DiNapoli and Abigail Summerville in New York. Editing by Lisa Jucca and Matthew Lewis)

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store