Australia is grappling with a growing food insecurity crisis and families across the nation are struggling as one in three (33 per cent) households experienced food insecurity in the past year[1], with the strain even sharper in regional Victoria where 34 per cent of families are unsure where their next meal will come from[2], according to McCain Foods.
“In Ballarat, the challenge of putting food on the table has reached a crisis point for many local families – exacerbated by drought conditions,” says McCain Foods. “Natural disasters make up nine per cent of the reason why households are struggling to put food on the table. Additionally, more than one-in-four (27%) of Victorian families now rely on food relief services[3] prompting McCain Foods to partner up with Foodbank Victoria to help meet this growing need.”
On 11 November, all staff at the McCain Ballarat dinner manufacturing plant prepared meals as part of McCain and Foodbank’s Collaborative Supply Program – aiming to provide 81,600 limited edition Pub Size BBQ Meatlovers Loaded Parma’s valued at over $775,000 for families in need.
“The Pub Size BBQ Meatlovers Loaded Parma is a McCain favourite and with almost 30 grams of protein, is a great option for promoting vital immune functions.”
McCain Foods Supply Chain Director ANZ Effie Gorringe said: “It’s deeply rewarding to see our team once again rally behind local communities doing it tough. Food insecurity is a reality for far too many Australians, and it hits hardest in the regions. It’s been a tough year for the Ballarat community, with drought conditions affecting the availability of food.”
“It’s vital that more businesses step up and roll up their sleeves for regional communities. At McCain we’re grateful to do just that through our partnership with Foodbank – turning our resources into something that makes a real, tangible difference.”
Foodbank Australia CEO Kylea Tink said partnerships like this are crucial to ensuring no Australians are left behind.
“We are so grateful for partnerships like the one we have with McCain and we’re so proud to be working with the team to help tackle this growing hunger crisis. Our country produces enough food to feed the population three times over; we shouldn’t have a hunger problem. I urge more companies to follow McCain’s lead and together help us put a nutritious meal on the table of the many Aussies doing it tough.”
Foodbank Victoria CEO David McNamara said: “Right now, in more than 500,000 homes across Victoria, people are skipping meals with some going days without food. Around 400,000 kids are growing up in those homes, where parents are working incredibly hard but facing a daily struggle to put food on the table.
“We’re grateful to be working with McCain once again to help get meals to those families and encourage more companies to create initiatives like this that have an immediate impact. No one should have to go without food, and we’re in awe of the McCain team who’ll be working through the night to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
McCain has been a mainstay in the Ballarat community for more than 50 years.
McCain ANZ Managing Director Lyn Radford said McCain is a proud local employer and long-time partner to many local suppliers.
“We’re proud to serve the Ballarat community in any way we can. As our Victorian home, we feel a strong responsibility to the wellbeing of the people who live here. Many of our team members are from Ballarat and the surrounding region, so partnering with Foodbank once again to help deliver much-needed food relief to Australians is important to us.
“This initiative wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of our suppliers, who’ve stepped up to donate ingredients and packaging, including Vacupack, Graphic Packaging, Tegal, Opal and many others.”
All meals produced on McCain’s Foodbank Collaboration Day will be distributed both locally to Ballarat and to Foodbank’s network of more than 2000 charities nationwide.
[1] Foodbank Hunger Report 2025.
