Beef industry gives back with Foodbank Beef Program

JBS Australia and Primo have committed to the Foodbank Beef Program, a major new beef initiative that will supply Foodbank with more than 130 tonnes of sausages per year to those in need.

Currently, the program supplies 5000 kg of sausages each fortnight to Foodbank in each Australian state. Foodbank then distributes the food through 2600 welfare agencies, many of which are located in rural Australia.

“We are currently supplying enough meat for more than 75,000 meals a month and are hopeful donations will continue to be forthcoming to ensure we can keep up the supply well into the future,” said David Crombie, director of Foodbank Queensland.

“With one kilogram of sausages providing enough for seven meals, a small donation of just one beast provides the meat for many meals to disadvantaged Australians and helps make a significant difference to the lives of those less fortunate.”

Initial cattle were donated by Wellard and Austrex, with JBS matching this donation and also agreeing to donate a regular supply of trim to the program while the cattle donations gear up to the number required. Primo is manufacturing the sausages for the charity.

The program has secured several key suppliers to Primo including Devro, Snopak, Cryovac, Labelmakers and Visy. Scott’s Refrigerated Transport is donating its services to transport the sausages to Foodbank in each state every fortnight to help make the program a success.

Foodbank says it hopes to build on this initiative in the future by including other beef industry partners.