EAST HANOVER, N.J.,
Nov. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/
-- Today, TRISCUIT, a brand known for its woven, whole grain
wheat crackers, announced the launch of The Missing Ingredients
Project, the brand's first-ever purpose-driven effort to help
increase access to the variety of affordable, fresh foods lacking
in food deserts. Through this initiative, TRISCUIT is committing
$1 million in grant funding over the
next three years to find and support individuals and non-profit
organizations who are developing innovative ways to advance access
to a variety of fresh, nourishing food in food deserts across
the United States.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA),
approximately 19 million people— 6.2 percent of the United States population — live in food
deserts. These are geographic areas, either urban or rural, where
access to affordable, healthy food options, including fresh fruits
and vegetables, is limited or non-existent. In food deserts,
access is often restricted by several factors including distance to
the grocery store, the number of stores in the area, family income
and availability of transportation. According to the USDA, food
deserts are described as low-income areas where at least 500
people, or at least 33 percent of the population, is greater than
1.0 mile from the nearest supermarket, supercenter, or large
grocery store for an urban area or greater than 10 miles for a
rural area1.
"The TRISCUIT brand has always been committed to weaving more
nourishment into the world, and right now, millions of people live
in areas where they cannot find essential nourishing ingredients
needed for a balanced diet, only been made worse by the pandemic,"
said Sally Barton, Senior Brand
Manager, Mondelēz International. "It's a crisis that demands our
attention, and as a brand, we knew we had to take action."
Starting in early 2021, the brand will invite local nonprofits
to apply for one of 20 $50,000 grants
to help fuel and fortify their work. The Missing Ingredients
Project will award six grants in 2021 and the remaining 14 grants
be awarded in 2022 and 2023.
Changemakers will be asked to submit applications showcasing how
they are driving change and improving food access in food deserts
across the country – from community fridges with fresh food to
hosting pop-up food banks to meet increased demand for healthy,
balanced meals. Changemakers will be selected on the strength of
their solutions, the impact of their work and their ability and
desire to scale their plans to reach even more people.
TRISCUIT is launching a digital and out-of-home campaign
featuring arresting visuals in the form of iconic "missing posters"
that highlight the reality millions of Americans face: missing the
nourishing food they need for balanced eating. Out-of-home media
placements can be found in neighborhoods across New York City, including on LinkNYC digital
platforms, in close proximity to supermarkets, with the goal of
emphasizing one of the factors impacting food access in food
deserts: distance to a grocery store. Consumers will be directed to
triscuit.com/MissingIngredients to learn more about the issue.
TRISCUIT is also partnering with James
Beard award-winning New
Orleans chef, Nina Compton,
and L.A. based chef, restaurateur, author, and television
personality, Ludo Lefebvre, to raise awareness of the issue and
help TRISCUIT engage with changemakers.
"Access to fresh and healthy food is something many of us,
including myself, take for granted," said Compton. "In New Orleans,
COVID has compounded the problem of missing food and we need brands
like TRISCUIT to work toward a solution."
"The issue of food deserts doesn't get the attention it
deserves," said Lefebvre. "As a Los
Angeles-based chef, I know people in my community—my
neighbors, colleagues, friends and my children's classmates—who do
not have access to a very basic need of affordable, healthy food,
and I am pleased to partner with brands like TRISCUIT that are
helping to improve access."
For more information on The Missing Ingredients Project and how
to apply for a grant or nominate changemakers when the application
process opens in early 2021, visit
triscuit.com/MissingIngredients
About TRISCUIT
For over 100 years, TRISCUIT Original
crackers, baked with 100% whole grain wheat have started out with
three simple ingredients – wheat, oil and salt. TRISCUIT is
committed to crafting delicious crackers that align with consumer
desires. The entire portfolio of TRISCUIT crackers is Non-GMO
Project Verified, and the "Non-GMO Project Verified" butterfly logo
is clearly labelled on all packaging. Visit TRISCUIT.com for more
information.
About Mondelēz International
Mondelēz International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MDLZ) empowers people to
snack right in over 150 countries around the world. With 2019 net
revenues of approximately $26
billion, MDLZ is leading the future of snacking with iconic
global and local brands such as TRISCUIT, OREO,
belVita and LU biscuits; Cadbury
Dairy Milk,
Milka and Toblerone chocolate; Sour
Patch Kids candy and Trident gum.
Mondelēz International is a proud member of the Standard and Poor's
500, Nasdaq 100 and Dow Jones Sustainability Index.
Visit www.mondelezinternational.com or follow the company
on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MDLZ.
CONTACT:
Megan
Taubeneck
Weber
Shandwick
MTaubeneck@webershandwick.com
Rachel Lancaster
Weber Shandwick
RLancaster@webershandwick.com
1.
|
United States
Department of Agriculture, Food Access Research Atlas
: https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-access-research-atlas/documentation/
|
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SOURCE TRISCUIT