Hormel Foods Surpasses Its Project PB&J Spreading Party Goal

As the company celebrates its 125th anniversary this year, Hormel Foods Corporation's foodservice sales team partnered with Which Wich Superior Sandwiches for a Project PB&J Spreading Party during their national sales meeting in Minneapolis, Minn., on July 27th. The team of 200 employees was able to make 10,010 PB&J sandwiches in an hour, surpassing their goal of 9,000. The sandwiches, made with SKIPPY peanut butter, were donated to Loaves and Fishes, Catholic Charities and People Serving People to help those in need after the event.

“Giving back to communities is an important value of Hormel Foods,” says Mark J. Ourada, vice president of sales, foodservice, Hormel Foods. “That is why we were pleased to team up with a valued partner, Which Wich, to hold a Project PB&J Spreading Party during our event.”

In 2015, Hormel Foods donated $5.2 million in cash and product donations to help those in need. In addition to donating 2.5 million cans of SPAMMY, a shelf-stable poultry product fortified with vitamins and minerals to help malnourished children in Guatemala, Hormel Foods donated $400,000 to charities in 40 communities where it had manufacturing facilities and contributed to several disaster relief efforts.

"This event was amazing and it was in alignment with what we stand for at Hormel Foods — our people, our partnerships and our communities,” says Ana Gonzalez, foodservice account executive at Hormel Foods. “The less time we had the faster we went. We found a way to work together as a team to beat our goal and made over 10,000 sandwiches!”

“Hormel Foods has been a pre-day-one partner to Which Wich and we were thrilled to help them spread some love throughout Minneapolis,” says Hala Habal, vice president of communications for Which Wich.

For each PB&J purchased, Which Wich donates a PB&J wich to someone in need through Project PB&J and banks one to give away in large scale on a global level. As kids themselves, founders Jeff and Courtney Sinelli shared a love for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. PB&J was the first wich created for the brand, and the two chose to use it as a way for Which Wich to show its support for those who are less fortunate, company officials say. 

"We started Project PB&J with the belief that a simple peanut butter and jelly sandwich can change the world," Sinelli says. "Since then, we've seen PB&J's bring comfort and comfort food to those who need it."