Associated Food Stores, John Morrell Support Utah Hunger Relief

Utah's Associated Food Stores teamed up with John Morrell Food Group to donate 2,700 servings of John Morrell ham to the Utah Food Bank in Salt Lake City.

Last year, John Morrell announced that it was joining its parent company, Smithfield Foods, in supporting the No Kid Hungry campaign, a national organization working to end childhood hunger in America. In December 2013, the company and Associated Food Stores joined forces to support Utah Food Bank with a product donation and return this year to help fight hunger at the local level.

"Our partnership with the No Kid Hungry campaign is an excellent way for us to help make a difference and to help get children and families the food they need," said Chuck Gitkin, VP of marketing and R&D at Lisle, Ill.-based John Morrell Food Group. "Giving back to the communities in which we work and live and in particular, supporting the fight against hunger, is important to all of us at John Morrell. We are proud to continue this relationship and are thankful for the support of partners such as Associated Food Stores. With their support, it enables us to reach out to communities not just in Salt Lake City but to many others across the country."

Hunger a Critical Issue

The Utah Food Bank reports that one in five children in Utah struggle with hunger. Throughout the state, the No Kid Hungry campaign supports access to free meals in the summer and empowers families with skills to prepare healthy and affordable meals.

"Utah Food Bank is incredibly grateful for such an important donation of rarely-available highly nutritious meat products," said Ginette Bott, chief development officer, Utah Food Bank. "This donation comes a critical time of need for the 444,000 Utahans facing hunger, and we are proud to be able to make the holiday season just a bit brighter for Utahans in need."

John Morrell Food Group brands include Armour, Eckrich, John Morrell, Curly's, Patrick Cudahy, Carando, Healthy Ones, Margherita, Kretschmar and LunchMakers.

Salt Lake City-based Associated Food Stores Inc. is a cooperatively owned wholesale distributor to almost 500 independently owned supermarkets in an eight-state region.