IFCO Receives Award for Support of Food Banks

IFCO SYSTEMS, a global provider of reusable packaging solutions, has been awarded the Tafel Teller 2014 by the Bundesverband Deutsche Tafel e.V. in Germany, as recognition of its ongoing support of food banks worldwide. Since initiating its food bank support program, IFCO has donated nearly 150,000 RPCs (Reusable Plastic Containers) to more than 70 food banks in Europe, North America and South America. It has also helped co-finance 43 refrigerated vehicles to keep fruit and vegetables fresh. The Tafel Teller 2014 was awarded to IFCO by the Federal Family Minister and patron of the food banks, Manuela Schwesig, and the Chairman of the Bundesverband Deutsche Tafel e.V., Jochen Brühl. "On behalf of the Bundesverband Deutsche Tafel e.V., I would like to thank IFCO SYSTEMS for their committed support to the food banks and for the successful and always pleasant cooperation," said Brühl. This year, IFCO Germany has helped co-sponsor eight refrigerated vans for German food banks and has donated 13,000 RPCs. "We really appreciate receiving this award. The food bank business corresponds very well with our own business model and they do a great job in helping people in need. This is the reason why we concentrate our social activities on supporting food banks worldwide," said Wolfgang Orgeldinger, CEO of IFCO Systems. IFCO is also active with other food banks around the world. This year, IFCO Portugal has donated approximately 1,900 RPCs to Food Bank Algarve, while IFCO Spain has taken part in the Gran Recogida Madrid and donated 2.200 IFCO Magnum Boxes for the effort which took place at the end of November with the aim of gathering 2 million kg of food for Madrid’s needy. In addition, the month of November saw a number of IFCO employees in the United Kingdom volunteering at the Tower Hamlets Foodbank to help sort and distribute food within their network. IFCO UK also issued an additional 5,000 RPCs to The Trussell Trustfor use within their network of over 350 food banks all over the UK, bringing the total donation to date to over 25,000 RPCs. In December, IFCO UK will take part in the annual Christmas Hamper appeal withTower Hamlets Foodbank, where they assist in preparing and handing out of Christmas hampers to those in need. In November, IFCO France participated in the collection of donated goods organized by the Banque Alimentaire at an Intermarché market. The IFCO employees helped promote the effort to shoppers, encouraging them to purchase additional goods for donation during their shopping trip. This effort resulted in 21 caddies of donated goods for the Banque Alimentaire. Meanwhile in Italy, IFCO will continue its annual tradition and donate approximately 1.000€ to the Banco Alimentare. IFCO Italy’s donation is made possible thanks to customers who elect to receive their Christmas greetings electronically instead of via printed cards. In South America, employees of IFCO Brazil continued their ongoing support of Ong Banco de Alimentos during October, when employees volunteered to collect donations in support of Worldwide Day Against Hunger. Similarly, IFCO North America has continued its support of more than 1,000 food banks through donations of RPCs and financial contributions.