Stop & Shop and Unilever to Provide More than 1 Million Meals for Local Families

QUINCY, Mass., Sept. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- According to Feeding America, the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity, 14 million children in the U.S. live in poverty.(1) To help reduce this troubling statistic, Stop & Shop and Unilever today announced a partnership to donate $150,000 for Feeding America and its local member food banks this September – Hunger Action Month.

The donation will provide more than one million meals to children and families in need through Stop & Shop's Family Foundation, which was created to raise money to combat hunger, childhood cancer and fund children's education and support programs. The Family Foundation committed $1.5 million to local hunger relief organizations on behalf of Stop & Shop customers and vendors in 2009 as part of a three-year grant program.  Stop & Shop has donated more than $30 million to hunger relief efforts since launching its Food for Friends program in 1989.

"As a company, we are always exploring new ways to support the communities we serve," said Faith Weiner, director of public affairs at Stop & Shop. "This fall, through our partnership with Unilever, we've identified a handful of ways customers can join us in our effort to fight childhood hunger. All of their contributions – even donating $1 through our in-store popsicle parties will help make a difference in the life of a child this fall."  

Last year, Stop & Shop and its customers donated more than $1 million to local hunger relief organizations. For every dollar donated Feeding America provides seven meals for families in need. Stop & Shop's 2010 events include:

• Popsicle Parties – Satisfy a sweet tooth and help a family in need by purchasing a Popsicle pop for $1 on Sept. 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Stop & Shop will donate all of the proceeds to local area food banks.  Go to stopandshop.com for a list of participating stores.
• Fill-A-Truck Events – Fill a Stop & Shop truck to the brim by delivering canned and non-perishable food items during Stop & Shop's Fill-A-Truck events this fall. Unilever will match the donation pound for pound, up to $6,100 per event, with additional products from the Unilever family of brands. Visit stopandshop.com for more details.
• In-Store Promotions – Buy $15 of select Unilever items between now and Sept. 30, get $4 off, and Unilever will give $1 which is the equivalent of  seven meals to families in needs through Feeding America and its local member food banks. Participating brands include Bertolli Sauce, Breyers, Good Humor, Hellmann's, I Can't Believe It's Not Butter, Klondike, Knorr Side Dishes, Lipton Soup, Popsicle, Promise, Ragu Sauce, Skippy, Suave and Wishbone.
• Baseball Partnerships – Through a partnership with the Red Sox Radio Network and the Yankees Radio Network, Unilever will donate 100 pounds of food  to local member food banks for every "strike-out" pitched during the month of September

"We're making strides in the fight to end family hunger, but there is still plenty of work left to do," said Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of Feeding America. "Every little bit matters, and we are encouraged by companies like Stop & Shop and Unilever that provide simple ways for their customers to take action and get involved this month."

For more information about Stop & Shop's community initiatives visit www.stopandshop.com.  

(1) Source: www.feedingamerica.org

About Stop & Shop

The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company, headquartered in Quincy, Mass., employs more than 59,000 associates and operates stores throughout Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maine, New Hampshire, New York and New Jersey. The company is a member of the US Green Building Council and has been awarded LEED (EB) certifications for 50 of its existing stores.  Stop & Shop has been recognized by the EPA for the superior energy management of its stores and is also a member of the EPA's Smart Way program.

About Feeding America (Formerly America's Second Harvest – The Nation's Food Bank Network)

Feeding America provides low-income individuals and families with the fuel to survive and even thrive. As the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity, our network members supply food to more than 37 million Americans each year, including 14 million children and 3 million seniors. Serving the entire United States, more than 200 member food banks support 61,000 agencies that address hunger in all of its forms. For more information on how you can fight hunger in your community and across the country, visit http://www.feedingamerica.org. Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/FeedingAmerica or follow our news on Twitter at twitter.com/FeedingAmerica.

About Unilever

Unilever's mission is to add vitality to life. We meet everyday needs for nutrition; hygiene and personal care with brands that help people feel good, look good and get more out of life. Each day, around the world, consumers make 160 million decisions to purchase Unilever products.

In the United States, the portfolio includes major brand icons such as: Axe, Ben & Jerry's, Bertolli, Breyers, Caress, Country Crock, Degree, Dove personal care products, Hellmann's, Klondike, Knorr, Lipton, Popsicle, Promise, Q-Tips, Skippy, Slim-Fast, Suave, Sunsilk and Vaseline. All of the preceding brand names are registered trademarks of the Unilever Group of Companies. Dedicated to serving consumers and the communities where we live, work and play, Unilever employs nearly 12,000 people in both the United States and Puerto Rico – generating nearly $10 billion in sales in 2008. For more information, visit www.unileverusa.com.

SOURCE Stop & Shop Supermarket Company