This is Zero Hunger | Zero Waste
Kroger’s Zero Hunger | Zero Waste impact plan addresses a fundamental problem in our food system: collectively, we produce more than enough food to feed everyone, yet one in seven Americans still struggle with hunger.
We believe everyone deserves access to the fresh, healthy food they need to thrive. We work tirelessly to improve food access through strategic charitable giving, surplus food donations, and coalitions of action in our communities to improve food and nutrition security now and in the future.
To date we've reached incredible milestones:
We’ve donated 3.4 billion meals and 1.5 billion dollars to feed more people in our communities.
We’ve rescued 700 million pounds of fresh surplus food with 100% of our stores actively donating food.
We’ve implemented food waste recycling programs across 95% of our stores through animal feed, composting or anaerobic digestion.
Through innovation, collaboration and community engagement, we’re committed to creating communities free of hunger and waste.
The Assignment
Raise awareness of the multitude of ways Kroger makes an impact in local communities, and in turn increase financial and action-based support for our mission across the country.
Our Concept
We launched a documentary series called, “This Is Zero Hunger | Zero Waste.” The series provided an intimate look into the Zero Hunger | Zero Waste program and the people behind it that makes everything possible.
Based on customer feedback and interests from our first three episodes, we expanded the series in 2024 by traveling around the country to highlight several organizations Kroger is financially supporting, as well as actively partnering with through associate volunteering:
Waste Less Solutions: Rescues fresh, fully prepared food from catered events, preventing it from going to waste and helping to distribute it to neighbors in need.
The LifeCare Alliance: Gives senior citizens much-needed relief from food insecurity and helps them stay independent in their own homes.
YMCA of Virginia’s Blue Ridge: Runs the “Cooking with Me” program to help provide children with the food knowledge, skills and resources they need to live their happiest, healthiest lives.
Episode 4
Turning High-Quality, Surplus Food Into Fresh Meals
As part of our mission to end hunger and eliminate waste in our communities, we provide funding to organizations like Waste Less Solutions to rescue fresh, fully prepared food from catered events, preventing it from going to waste and making sure it goes to community members in need. To date, Waste Less Solutions has saved over 2.1 million pounds of fresh food from going to waste. Imagine what that could look like if it was happening in every city.
Episode 5
Delivering Meals & Improving Seniors’ Quality of Life
We believe that everyone deserves access to fresh food. That’s why we provide funding to organizations like LifeCare Alliance. LifeCare Alliance helps to end hunger and eliminate waste in our communities, while giving senior citizens much-needed relief from food insecurity. Not only do they provide services to help seniors stay independent in their own homes, but they also provide nutritious, hot meals customized to address individual needs through food as medicine. And that’s making a huge difference in seniors’ quality of living.
Episode 6
Inspiring Children to Garden & Cook
The Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation provides funding to the YMCA of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Cooking with Me program to help provide children with the food knowledge, skills and resources they need to live their happiest, healthiest lives. This program not only educates children about shopping for nutritious foods and making healthy meals, but they get to plant, grow, harvest and create dishes using the fresh fruits and vegetables they’ve grown.
By focusing on food education, and helping children understand how food in the ground gets to their plates, the YMCA of Virginia’s Blue Ridge is not only helping their communities, but they’re investing in families and future generations.
