FOODFORWARD SA:

The statistics speak for themselves. 11.3 people in South Africa face the threat of hunger every single day. As heart-breaking as this is, it is worsened by the fact that one third of all the food produced in the country goes to landfill. Thus, with an aim to achieve #ZEROHUNGER by 2030, Woolworths has partnered with FOODFORWARD SA to address the issue of widespread hunger and elevate food security across vulnerable communities in SA. Read on to find out more about the milestones of this partnership. 

Food distribution

In October 2021, FOODFORWARD SA’s food distribution footprint reached all nine provinces in South Africa. In addition to the already operational five branches, they opened branches in Polokwane [Limpopo], Bloemfontein [Free State] and are servicing the Northern Cape. This expansion allowed them to reach an additional 37 000 beneficiaries in vulnerable communities.

Today, FOODFORWARD SA reaches 875 725 beneficiaries daily through 2225 beneficiary organisations.

Mobile Rural Depot

Mobile Rural Depot

Established in 2019, FOODFORWARD SA’s Mobile Rural Depot (MRD) programme addresses the issue of rural food insecurity by transporting nutritious monthly provisions to poverty-stricken rural communities in the country. The Mobile Rural Depot programme has been successful in reaching 150 000 vulnerable people through 420 of their beneficiary organisations. 

Supply Chain Youth Internship Programme 

The FOODFORWARD SA TETA-accredited Youth Internship Programme has grown from strength to strength since its inception in 2019. In 2021, 13 interns from Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban were trained and upskilled. Of these: 

  1. 11 obtained forklift licenses 
  2. 3 were identified for further development
  3. 6 were offered permanent positions at FOODFORWARD SA
  4. 13 secured permanent positions with FOODFORWARD SA since its inception

One such inspiring story is that of Amanda (Ntokozo) Mchunu who completed her tertiary education and was determined to not be a mere statistic of ‘unemployed graduates’ in the country. She applied for FOODFORWARD SA’s Youth Internship Programme through an advert and received the opportunity to grow, develop her skills and realise her full potential on a professional and personal front. She was able to understand the intricacies of the supply chain field and issues related to food security in SA. Today, she is a Receiving & Dispatching Clerk at FOODFORWARD SA’s Durban branch. According to Amanda, “There are so many young people out there with great business ideas, but with a lack of innovation, adequate knowledge, and proper guidance all those ideas are in vain.” 

Woolworths is proud to be associated with FOODFORWARD SA and looks forward to achieving our shared goal of strengthening food security and #ZEROHUNGER by 2030.