Woolworths donated over R857 million in surplus food donated and invested R40 million in building long-term solutions

 As the world commemorates World Food Day under the United Nations’ theme “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future,” Woolworths is reaffirming its commitment to tackling food insecurity in South Africa through strategic partnerships and sustained investment in community-led solutions.

In the past year alone, Woolworths donated R857 million worth of surplus food to FoodForward SA (FFSA) via the organisation’s innovative programme managed by the FoodShare digital platform to make excess food accessible. This is R41 million more than the R816 million donated at the end of June 2024. This food reached 2,500 vetted beneficiary organisations across the country, providing the equivalent of 52.2 million meals. 

Woolworths’ donations accounted for 63% of all food distributed by FFSA during the past financial year— feeding nearly a million South Africans every day with no conditions based on race, gender, or religious background, ensuring inclusive access for all at risk of food insecurity while creating meaningful employment opportunities for unemployed youth through FFSA’s food distribution network.

“Food insecurity is one of the most urgent social challenges facing South Africa. Our approach goes beyond providing food relief — it’s about collaborating to create sustainable systems that ensure everyone has access to nutritious food,” says Zinzi Mgolodela, Woolworths Director of Corporate Social Justice. “We believe that access to food is a human right, and hunger is an injustice that demands long-term, collective solutions.”

Over the past five years, Woolworths has invested over R40 million in organisations working to strengthen food security — from empowering small-scale farmers and supporting community food gardens to enabling programmes that improve access to healthy, affordable food.

Among these initiatives is the Living Soils Community Learning Farm, a partnership between Woolworths, Spier Wine Farm, and the Sustainability Institute. The project provides young black farmers — mainly women — with hands-on training in sustainable and regenerative agriculture, improving both food production and livelihoods. Based on its success, Woolworths is planning to replicate the model in Gauteng, expanding learning opportunities for upcoming black women farmers and enhancing local food security.

In addition, Woolworths partners with seven community food projects across South Africa, primarily in rural areas, that empower households to grow their own food using regenerative farming techniques. One such initiative, Thanda’s Food Security & Economic Development programme in KwaZulu-Natal, supports 31 collective farms (380 farmers) and 650 households with backyard gardens. In 2024, Thanda-supported farmers produced vegetables worth over R8.7 million, consumed, sold, or donated within their communities.

“World Food Day’s theme reminds us that no one can solve hunger alone,” says Mgolodela. “By working hand in hand with our partners, we are helping build a more nourished, resilient, and equitable future for all South Africans.”