Banner Olive Branch serves vulnerable seniors thanks to Fry’s Food Stores

03/06/2024

Zero Hunger | Zero Waste program reduces waste and improves food security

One in eight Americans struggle with hunger, but nearly 40% of all food produced in America goes unsold or uneaten. The Kroger Co., parent company of Fry’s Food Stores, is working to change that by ending hunger and eliminating waste in our communities through its Zero Hunger | Zero Waste initiative.

Sun City seniors enjoy fresh during Olive Branch's Food Pantry.

Banner Olive Branch Senior Center trucks are deployed to a variety of Fry’s Food Stores every day to pick up donated groceries. Volunteers stock and organize the Food Pantry where low-income older adults come to shop free of charge. One in seven seniors in Arizona faces food insecurity, making the Food Pantry and the support from Fry’s invaluable.

The Zero Hunger | Zero Waste initiative anchors Kroger’s environmental, social and governance strategy. The initiative builds on the company’s strengths to help build a more sustainable and equitable food system that advances food and nutrition security for generations to come. Marking down prices on foods that are close to their use-by dates results in faster sales, while rescuing remaining fresh food for donation to local food banks and nonprofits helps improve food and nutrition security in vulnerable communities. In early 2023, the Zero Hunger | Zero Waste program achieved its goal to donate 3 billion meals nationally more than two years ahead of schedule.

Kroger also strategically aligns its philanthropic investments to the Zero Hunger | Zero Waste plan, prioritizing funding for programs that provide meals and improve food security—like Banner Olive Branch Senior Center. Customers are encouraged to Round Up their purchase to the nearest dollar at the cash register to support the initiative. In addition to daily food donations, Fry’s has given some $150,000 over the past five years to support Banner Olive Branch’s nutrition programs.

“At Fry’s Food Stores, we believe it is important to be a valued and engaged corporate citizen, which is everyone’s responsibility to help those in need,” said Pam Giannonatti, Corporate Affairs Manager, Fry’s Food Stores | The Kroger Co. “By taking action, we are fulfilling our purpose to feed the human spirit—which means caring for each other, our customers, and being there to build strong neighborhoods. We are committed to serving the communities where we live and work.”

Banner Olive Branch served 120,000 meals last year to low-income seniors through its congregate meals, home delivered meals, Food Pantry bags, and more.