SAPUTO DAIRY AUSTRALIA COOKS BIG FOR FOOD SECURITY

7 March 2024

Saputo Dairy Australia (SDA) has proudly kicked off a community-based initiative, the Big Cook Up, that will see its employees across multiple locations participate in preparing meals for vulnerable communities during March and April.

Around 150 employees are expected to volunteer their time and will prepare an estimated 4,000 healthy, nutritious meals for community members who are doing it tough.

SDA’s Human Resources Director, Terri Bryant-Harrell, said the Company was proud to join community partners Eat Up Australia, Loaves and Fishes Tasmania and OzHarvest to support local people at risk of food insecurity.

“At Saputo Dairy Australia, we believe giving back tastes good and this event pays homage to our core Company values. The Big Cook Up forms part of the Community Pillar of our Saputo Promise, which is our ongoing commitment to give back to the communities where we operate,” she said.

Melbourne-based employees kicked off the 2024 Big Cook Up series, volunteering at OzHarvest to learn zero-waste cooking skills while transforming rescued ingredients into nutritious meals for vulnerable communities.

Meanwhile, employees from its Cobram and Allansford sites are partnering with Eat Up Australia to prepare sandwiches with SDA’s cheese products so students can access a free, nutritious lunch. SDA’s Burnie and Smithton employees in Tasmania will make meals at Loaves and Fishes to distribute to those in need in the north-west Tasmanian community.

Through these cook up events, SDA aims to meaningfully increase awareness around the importance of volunteering, create an engaged and healthy workforce and make a positive impact on food security.

About SDA’s Big Cook Up community partners:

• Eat Up is Australia's only organisation providing free lunches for students on a national scale, reaching 700+ schools in VIC, NSW, NT, QLD and WA.

• Loaves and Fishes Tasmania is a free statewide emergency food provider, delivering food and hope to Tasmanians doing it tough.

• OzHarvest is Australia’s leading food rescue organisation. OzHarvest saves surplus food from ending up in landfill and delivers it to charities that help feed people in need.