CHEP and America's Second Harvest Team Up to Promote Food Donations
Form industry alliance to encourage donations from companies shipping on CHEP pallets and returnable containers; helping to fight hunger in America
ORLANDO -- January 5, 2005 -- CHEP, the global leader in pallet and container pooling solutions, and America's Second Harvest -- The Nation's Food Bank Network, announced today the formation of an industry alliance to simplify the donation process of food and grocery products from companies using CHEP pallets and returnable containers, and to facilitate the return of empty pallets and containers to CHEP Service Centers for inspection and maintenance.
After a joint pilot program last year, a model was developed to address the unique challenges faced by the America's Second Harvest Network in its fight to create a hunger-free America. Network Members signing up with the CHEP pooling system will enjoy formal status as CHEP participants with the ability to receive product shipped on or packed in CHEP equipment from participating retailers, manufacturers, growers and distributors. Food and grocery product donors will no longer have to switch to white wood pallets or face lost equipment charges, they simply will report any transfers of CHEP pallets to America's Second Harvest.
"During the pilot program, contributions increased from three national donors who ship goods on CHEP pallets," said Robert Forney, President and CEO of America's Second Harvest. "This alliance will simplify operations and improve donor service."
Under the agreement, America's Second Harvest will have a unique classification in the CHEP system that will streamline donations coming from CHEP participants. America's Second Harvest will work to consolidate CHEP equipment at larger food banks for return to CHEP. Auditing and accounting has been designed to eliminate pallet liability risks for any member.
"We look forward to leveraging the synergies of this partnership for the benefit of those in need across America," said Elton Potts, SVP, Asset Management at CHEP. "Beside lowering costs for the food banks as they no longer have to buy or transport pallets, this agreement will help bring hunger issues to the forefront."
Potts added that during a recent food drive at the CHEP offices in Orlando, 200 volunteering employees collected nearly 7,500 pounds of nonperishable foods for Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida.
America's Second Harvest—The Nation's Food Bank Network is the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization with a Network of more than 200 regional Member food banks and food-rescue programs serving all 50 states and Puerto Rico. The Network secures and distributes nearly two billion pounds of donated food and grocery products annually. The America's Second Harvest Network supports approximately 50,000 feeding agencies nationwide, including food pantries, soup kitchens, women’s shelters, and Kids Cafes. These local organizations provide emergency food assistance to 23 million hungry Americans, including more than nine million children and nearly three million seniors each year. For more information on America's Second Harvest, visit www.secondharvest.org.
About CHEP
CHEP is the global leader in pallet and
plastic container pooling services serving many of the world's largest
companies. The company has more than 7,700 employees in 42 countries. Combining
superior technology, over five decades of experience and an asset base of more
than 265 million pallets and containers, CHEP handles pallet and container
supply chain logistics for customers in the consumer goods, produce, meat, home
improvement, beverage, raw materials and automotive industries. With global
partners that include Wal-Mart, Procter & Gamble, SYSCO, Kellogg's, Kraft,
Nestle, Rich Products Corporation, Ford and GM, CHEP is known for Handling the
World's Most Important Products. Everyday. For more information about CHEP,
please visit: <http://www.chep.com>.
For further information, please contact:
Per Öhström
CHEP USA
407-355-6491
per.ohstrom@chep.com
Ronald Margulis
RAM Communications
908-272-3930
ron@rampr.com
Ross Fraser
America's Second Harvest
312-263-2303, ext. 127
rfraser@secondharvest.org
