Industry Corporate Social Responsibility
The foodservice distribution industry donates food and beverage products at an estimated value of $331 million a year to charitable organizations.
Overview
Foodservice Distributors Deliver for Americans in Need
Donating food and beverages and volunteering time to charitable organizations comes naturally to foodservice distributors. In fact, more than 95% of foodservice distributors participate in charitable activities. It’s estimated that the industry donates an estimated 7.5 million cases of food and beverage products valued at more than $331 million per year.
What is Corporate Social Responsibility?
Corporate Social Responsibility is generally described as a corporation’s initiatives to assess and take responsibility for its effects on environmental and social wellbeing, including, but not limited to, food donation, food waste reduction, environmental sustainability, animal welfare, community improvement and charitable giving.
IFDA CSR Committee Efforts
IFDA’s Corporate Social Responsibility Committee works to facilitate and drive industry efforts in the area of CSR, contributing expertise and thought-leadership. Its mission is to promote and advance CSR initiatives in the foodservice distribution industry; its vision is to educate and empower IFDA members and their partners to have a positive social and environmental impact in their communities. While the CSR space encompasses many facets, the committee’s current focus is on food donations/food waste reduction and charitable activities. The committee is currently on pause until fall 2024.
Food Donation Resource Kit
IFDA offers a free resource kit for foodservice distributors of all sizes to build a successful food donation program that benefits both the company and the community. The kit was developed with the guidance of IFDA’s Corporate Social Responsibility Committee.
You may download the full kit with or without templates, as well as download each template individually.
Food Donation Resource Kit Template Files
IFDA CSR Committee Member Companies
Organizations and Networks
Feeding America
This national non-profit organization is a nationwide network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs in nearly every community in all 50 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico.
Center for Food Integrity
Not-for-profit organization providing research and information to foster support for the belief that producing healthy, affordable food using fewer resources through responsible production, processing and distribution is the ethical choice that is right for people, animals and the planet.
Food Waste Reduction Alliance
Operated by the food sector’s leading trade associations, this cross-industry initiative includes more than 30 manufacturing, retailing and foodservice companies, along with expert partners from the anti-hunger community and waste management sector.
ReFed
A multi-stakeholder nonprofit, powered by an influential network of the nation’s leading business, nonprofit, foundation, and government leaders committed to reducing U.S. food waste.
Share Our Strength and No Kid Hungry
Foodservice-centric national organization that aims to end hunger and poverty.
Meals on Wheels
This national organization delivers meals to seniors in need.
Information & Tools
Feeding America Guides
- Feeding America guides on partnering, managing the supply chain, and ChoiceSystem.
- Printable FoodKeeper guide (PDF courtesy of Feeding America)
FoodKeeper
The FoodKeeper resource helps you understand food and beverages storage to maximize the freshness and quality of items. It was developed by the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, with Cornell University and the Food Marketing Institute.