When Kraft Heinz encountered obstacles in providing food for the nonprofit Rise Against Hunger, the company decided to utilize its existing procurement network by launching the Kraft Heinz Rise Together Procurement Program.
Launched in 2022, the program brought together a team of experts from various departments such as supply chain, operations, legal, and environmental, social, and governance. Sara Zeidan, the head of agriculture and sustainability in the East at Kraft Heinz, mentioned in an email to Supply Chain Dive that this team collaborated with Rise Against Hunger to streamline food delivery, laying the groundwork for tackling future logistics challenges.
This year, Kraft Heinz has pledged $15 million to Rise Against Hunger and extended its partnership with the organization for the next three years to continue their joint efforts. Zeidan stated, “The program encourages Kraft Heinz procurement experts to volunteer their time and expertise to assist Rise Against Hunger in procurement and supply chain matters through negotiations and partnerships with our key suppliers, aiming to double the impact of Rise Against Hunger’s global meal donation program by 2027.”
The company is currently in discussions with four global suppliers specializing in ingredients, packaging, and logistics, Zeidan revealed.
An essential part of Kraft Heinz’s collaboration with Rise Against Hunger is providing communities with nutritional products like Heinz Beanz, infant porridges, biscuits, beverages, and sauces.
Kraft Heinz has also teamed up with logistics firms and collaborated with Maersk to transport donations across the U.K. and Europe to assist those in need during a time of heightened logistics challenges and inflation, Zeidan explained.
“We collaborate with our logistics partners to offer transportation services as a donation to Rise Against Hunger. This service includes handling crucial customs clearance when necessary,” Zeidan added.
In 2023, the program’s efforts resulted in the delivery of more than 20 truckloads of food valued at around $500,000 to Rise Against Hunger. The organization distributed aid to individuals experiencing food insecurity in Ukraine, Turkey, and Syria, with an additional six truckloads of food sent to other non-profits.