Those are the figures marking a massive milestone of SPC Global’s unrelenting support of food security in the Goulburn Valley via food donations to Shepparton Foodshare.
SPC Global has been a supporter of Foodshare since it began in 2012, jumping on board as one of the food relief service’s first regular donors, as well as providing warehouse space in its early years.
“We were the first donor and plan to be the last, we will always be here,” SPC Global chief supply chain officer Moataz Ahmad said.
“It’s a big part of our guiding principle at SPC Global, and we are the biggest employer here in Shepparton, and it’s our responsibility to give back to the community.”
Mr Ahmad said the company was proud to set a leading example for other companies in its support for Foodshare.
“To be honest, there is not any pushback; everyone wants to be part of the journey and it’s our responsibility as long as we are operating here in Australia to support the community and give back to the community,” he said.
Mr Ahmad said when SPC Global receives crops of fruit and vegetables to begin processing, it factors donations for Foodshare into its plan.
“You can see today this is not just secondhand cans, but it’s 99.9 per cent quality cans, with more like a scratch on the label or something very simple,” he said.
“We are engaging with Foodshare on a daily basis and they are sharing with us when there is an increase in demand as well.”
SPC Global’s contributions include cans of fruit, tomatoes, spaghetti, and Mr Ahmad’s favourite, baked beans, in various sizes, including bulk cans to accommodate schools and services which provide community meals.
The milestone delivery, which represents the largest single-donor contribution recorded by Foodshare, rolled into its Mooroopna warehouse on May 27.
It came during a time of unprecedented demand for food relief services with Foodshare reporting year-on-year demand growth of around 30 per cent in the past few years, rising to 40 per cent in the past year.
The increase in demand is driven by cost-of-living pressures and need across diverse communities.
“Demand for our services continues to rise, and partnerships like the one we share with SPC are absolutely critical,” Shepparton Foodshare executive officer Dee Healey said.
“Reaching this milestone highlights the power of long-term, trusted relationships in supporting people when they need it most.”
Foodshare distributes around 350,000kg of food each year to registered agencies.
SPC products form a key part of Foodshare’s support, regularly reaching families, community kitchens and schools, and, through Foodshare’s broader network, are sometimes traded with other regional food relief organisations across Victoria to ensure communities receive the food they need most.
Since 2012, Shepparton Foodshare has redistributed more than five million kilograms of food – SPC Global’s contribution amounting to around 20 per cent – to people experiencing food insecurity throughout the Goulburn Valley and beyond.
“It’s a fantastic milestone for SPC Global,” Mr Ahmad said.
“We are the oldest agriculture food business here in Australia; we have been operating for more than 100 years.”
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