Food industry pledges to raise £5 million to help end hunger in Africa

25 March 2015

Leading figures from the UK food and hospitality industries last night redoubled their commitment to Farm Africa’s Food for Good campaign to end hunger in eastern Africa.

Hosted by Bruno Loubet at Bistrot Bruno Loubet and sponsored by Typhoo, over sixty leaders from across the industry came together for a Farm Africa dinner on 23 March.

“The response to the Food for Good campaign has been nothing short of overwhelming,” Richard MacDonald, Chair of Farm Africa, told guests.

“When we set off to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in 2011, we had no idea that the industry would get behind this so enthusiastically. Together, we have already raised more than £1 million, enough to help end hunger for 15,000 people. But hunger still kills more people than TB, AIDS and malaria combined so we need to do more.”

“Inspired by the energetic support to date, we are announcing the new target of £5 million.  It’s ambitious but I am delighted to say that with pledged support already from Barfoots, Bestway, Booker, Devenish, Moy Park, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Thompsons, W&R Barnett and William Reed Business Media, we are well on our way.”

After the meal, Lorraine Hendle, managing director of William Reed BusinessMedia, and Julian Marks, Managing Director of Barfoots of Botley, inspired guests with stories of their personal involvement with Farm Africa projects in Kenya and Tanzania and the difference they helped make to the lives of the women and men they met .

Ends

A collection of images from the dinner are available upon request featuring the chef, restaurant and speakers.

Notes to Editor:

About Farm Africa

Farm Africa believes that Africa’s farmers can feed Africa’s people. It provides solutions before hunger becomes an emergency, investing in farmers to give them the tools and skills they need to feed their families. It also trains farmers’ groups in how to market and sell what they farm so their families see change not just for this harvest but for years to come.

To help more farmers beat hunger for good please visit www.farmafrica.org

For more information, please contact: 

Farm Africa Press Office:  Kaye Stearman: 020 7841 5156020 7841 5156 / kayes@farmafrica.org