And that’s another 100.000 food packages in the bag! Kraft Heinz pulling up their sleeves for Rise Against Hunger

You might have heard about our Members from Kraft Heinz: a household name in the global food industry carrying a large number of famous brands such as Heinz, Kwatta, and Philadelphia. As one of the world’s largest multinationals, Kraft Heinz is set on their global commitment to give back as much as they can. And recently, they did so during their annual Packathon initiative as part of their partnership with the non-profit organisation Rise Against Hunger.

Who?

Henri Groenweghe: Key Account Manager at Kraft Heinz, responsible for pricing negotiations, product assortments, promotions, collaborations, etc with the Colruyt Group.

Introducing: the Kraft Heinz Packathon

A few weeks ago, Kraft Heinz employees travelled to their Amsterdam office for this year's Packathon where they packaged an extraordinary 100.000 meals across three shifts over the course of just one day.

Henri: “Every year, the Packathon is a fun and collaborative effort that always turns into a friendly competition to see who can pack the most bags. Everyone kind of forms small production lines, carefully filling packs with rice, soy, dehydrated vegetables and a micronutrient packet before weighing and sealing them to ensure every meal meets exact standards. Once complete, we box our packages and prepare them for shipment to Zimbabwe, where 100.000 bag provide food security to 500 schoolchildren for an entire year. And the smart thing is that this thoughtful distribution of meals at schools not only ensures nourishment, but also encourages children to attend school. Empowering them with education and opening doors to brighter futures”.

This initiative is part of Kraft Heinz's broader Sustainability Goals, which aim to provide millions of meals annually to communities in need. Their global partnership with Rise Against Hunger, which began in 2013, is testament to Kraft Heinz's long-standing commitment to tackling food insecurity and driving social change.

Henri: “Every year, one person takes the lead to organise this initiative. This year, it was my colleague Demi de Wilde who I would therefore like to give a very honourable mention!”

A culture of giving back

What makes Kraft Heinz's efforts so inspiring, is that their social engagement doesn’t stop at the Packathon. Giving back is woven into the company’s culture, exemplified by several initiatives that reflect their values:

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1. Volunteer days: Kraft Heinz employees are encouraged to take time off to participate in volunteer work, reinforcing the company's dedication to making an impact beyond the boardroom.
2. Sustainability and diversity committees: Topical subcommittees within Kraft Heinz focus on key issues such as sustainability, diversity, and inclusion, ensuring these principles remain integral to their operations.
3. Fighting food waste with Too Good To Go: Kraft Heinz also collaborates with Too Good To Go, a platform that combats food waste.

Despite their exceptional stock management, leftover stock with short shelf lives occasionally turns up in their warehouses. And instead of letting it go to waste, Kraft Heinz partners with Too Good To Go to sell these items at low prices in the so-called Surprise Bags. Their recent collaboration even highlighted Ed Sheeran's "Tingly Ted’s" hot sauce, showcasing an innovative way to integrate sustainability with creativity – and a decent amount of pop glamour.

Continuous inspiration

We couldn’t resist asking Henri for his personal favourite product from the Kraft Heinz range; so we did!

Henri: “My personal recommendation of my favourite Kraft Heinz product must be the Frito Creations. This is available at Delhaize and Carrefour and comes in three flavours in a glass jar. It kind of is a passata already quite close to a pasta sauce. Super tasty and can be used in all kinds of dishes!”

Next to being inspired by all of the amazing Kraft Heinz social initiatives, we’ll gladly take on this inspiration for dinner tonight as well. Thank you, Henri!