As one of The Global FoodBanking Network’s (GFN) founding partners, Kellanova, the maker of snacks like Pringles, Pop-Tarts and Cheez-It, is well acquainted with the impact of supporting food banks, which both help feed people facing hunger and reduce food waste and its environmental impact.

Since GFN’s founding in 2006, Kellanova has invested more than $6 million in GFN and member food banks that are helping to fill the gaps in food security in communities worldwide through food assistance and dedicated child hunger programs. In 2020, Kellanova donated more than $13 million in cash and food to members of GFN, the European Food Banks Federation and Feeding America in support of COVID-19 hunger relief. More recently, the partnership has become a key component of Kellanova’s Better Days Promise to “advance sustainable and equitable access to food.”

Recently, we discussed the longstanding partnership with GFN with Kellanova Chief Philanthropy Officer Stephanie Slingerland. Slingerland leads the Better Days Promise and other social responsibility initiatives, and she’s held a variety of philanthropy and communications roles at Kellanova since she joined the team in 2006.

GFN: Kellanova has supported GFN from the beginning. Why is supporting GFN and food banks around the world a priority for Kellanova?

Stephanie Slingerland: At Kellanova, we believe that leading with purpose is not only important to running a good business, but is also critical for our communities, planet and people to thrive. We’re incredibly passionate about our commitment to advance sustainable and equitable access to food and create better days for the people and communities we serve around the world. As a founding partner of GFN, we have long understood the benefit of a strong food banking infrastructure to help address hunger around the world. We work closely with food banks in more than 30 countries on six continents to help feed people facing food insecurity. Ultimately, we want to see a day where people are not just filled but fulfilled.

What work does Kellanova specifically support in partnership with GFN?

Through our partnership, we’re helping GFN support their food bank partners’ efforts to expand their food sourcing capabilities to deliver cost-effective, climate-friendly and nutritious meals to children. For example, we’ve helped establish several new food banks. We worked to help The Food Bank Singapore with food donations when it first started more than a decade ago. Since 2006, Kellanova has invested $6.3 million in supporting GFN member food banks that are helping to fill the gaps in food security in communities worldwide through food assistance and dedicated child hunger programs.

Kellanova recently released a report on school feeding programs — what did you learn about those kinds of initiatives?

We’ve been commissioning research on the impact of feeding programs on kids since 2020. We found that these programs, like school breakfast programs, create more than just a positive impact on the physical heath of the kids who take part, but play an important role on  the emotional and social health children as well. For our latest report, we wanted to step outside the school gates to understand the impact of these programs — particularly those tied to food banks — on society overall. We partnered with GFN to interview those involved with programs in South Africa, India, Mexico, Canada and Australia. Overall, the research showed that these programs help children integrate into their communities; encourage social inclusivity, often directly or indirectly engaging the entire family and passing along skills like food waste reduction that kids learn at the programs; and help build bridges in the community through formal and informal networks — such as WhatsApp text groups — where they can exchange ideas and experiences.

What would you tell other companies about partnering with GFN?

Our founder, W.K. Kellogg, believed that the key to running a good business is doing good for society. That was almost 120 years ago, but it rings truer than ever today. Increasing access to food not only helps individuals thrive but also strengthens healthy, resilient communities, while reducing food loss and waste cuts emissions and conserves natural resources. Organizations like GFN make these efforts possible, and that’s why we’re proud to have been a partner on their journey from day one.