The Northpine Foundation has announced an investment in the Big Feed Club Grocery Delivery, to revolutionize food distribution and combat food insecurity in rural communities. This substantial investment of $500,000 will support a groundbreaking initiative to address the pressing issue of food deserts and bring affordable and nutritious food to underserved regions.
The province faces persistent food insecurity, with almost 16% of households affected according to 2017 data, and a staggering 65% of households on income support (2018). These statistics, coupled with the logistical hurdles faced by remote communities mean that lack of access to food is a real threat to health, well-being, and overall quality of life in Newfoundland & Labrador.
Bradley Russell, CEO of Big Feed said, “We are on a mission to redefine food distribution in Newfoundland and Labrador. Big Feed’s approach uses existing resources for two-way distribution, to bridge the gap between urban markets and rural communities. Our vision is to eliminate food deserts and enhance the well-being of residents.”
The Big Feed model is unique, leaning on an existing provincial transportation network to significantly reduce costs and carbon emissions of distribution. By partnering with public transit systems, the company ensures the timely and affordable transport of healthy produce and essential goods. This multi-pronged approach is already delivering impressive results.
According to Russell, “Big Feed is not just taking on a logistical challenge – we are using the solution to foster economic growth in our communities while building on our record of serving over 6000 customers across rural Newfoundland and Labrador.”
With an eye on the future, Big Feed is poised to scale its impact even further and is actively seeking to establish agreements with local food hubs, facilitate intake programs for locally produced foods, and collaborate with additional public transit partners. These ambitious objectives are all geared toward enhancing food accessibility for more underserved communities across the province.
Mark Lane, Impact Director — Rural Newfoundland & Labrador at the Northpine Foundation comments, “We believe in Big Feed’s vision and potential. Their demonstrated success, strategic partnerships and plans to scale by building more such partnerships are indicative of their dedication to tackling the pressing issue of food insecurity. Our intent is to integrate this food system with that of Food First NL Food Hub in which we also invested $900,000 to really make sustainable and scalable change to providing healthy food to all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.”
Big Feed is set to redefine the landscape of food distribution in Newfoundland and Labrador. This investment will catalyze this transformation, fostering a brighter, healthier future for countless individuals and communities.
Learn more about Big Feed Club here and see the Northpine Foundation’s investments in Rural Newfoundland & Labrador here.