Massmart management contributes to feeding the vulnerable

17th April 2020

By: Donna Slater

Features Deputy Editor and Chief Photographer

     

Font size: - +

Wholesale and retail group Massmart's management board and executive committee have resolved to personally fund, through a waiver of a portion of their salaries, 230 t of food for distribution to vulnerable communities.

The contribution will be made to FoodForward South Africa (SA) through the delivery of 77 t of food a month, for three months, starting in April.

International holding company, Walmart International will also match the donation with an additional 230 t of food being donated to FoodForward SA during the same period.

The total contribution will amount to about 1.85-million meals.

Massmart CE Mitch Slape says that, from discussions with FoodForward SA, it was ascertained that a significant increase in food insecurity arose from the Covid-19 disruption to economic activity, particularly among unemployed people in the informal sector.

FoodForward SA MD Andy du Plessis says nutrition plays an important role in maintaining a strong immune system. “Without access to proper nutrition, the vulnerable in our society are at even greater risk, particularly with the imminent onset of winter.”

He adds that the next few months are going to be “extremely difficult” for food insecure communities. “We hope that others will follow the lead of the Massmart executive committee and their nonexecutive directors.”

In addition to supporting FoodForward SA with a previous 50 t food donation, Massmart has supplied or funded protective face visors for healthcare workers, as well as hazardous materials suits and assorted merchandise for Covid-19 drive-through and testing facilities operated by Gift of the Givers.

FoodForward SA has tried and tested systems in place to ensure immediate distribution of food to those most in need, including the aged, orphaned, disabled and homeless.

Edited by Chanel de Bruyn
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor Online

Comments

The content you are trying to access is only available to subscribers.

If you are already a subscriber, you can Login Here.

If you are not a subscriber, you can subscribe now, by selecting one of the below options.

For more information or assistance, please contact us at subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za.

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION