Supermarket Perimeter - November 2023 - 8

CORPORATE
RESPONSIBILITY
By Andy Nelson
G
rocery retailers and their supplier
partners continue to ramp up their
corporate responsibility programs to
support the health of people and the planet.
Wichita, Kan.-based Cargill Protein defines
corporate responsibility as the commitment to
making a positive impact in the communities
where it operates, said Pete Stoddart, Cargill's
North American director for corporate
responsibility.
" We believe that beef can be a force for
good, which is why our focus is on investing
in programs that address local challenges and
improve the well-being of residents and their
families - including our own employees who
live and work in these communities. "
Given the many challenges faced in
the different communities where Cargill
operates, there's no one-size-fits all solution
to corporate responsibility, Stoddart said. But
recurring themes for the company include
sustainability, food insecurity, health and
diversity, equity and inclusion.
Sustainability. Through Cargill's BeefUp
Sustainability initiative, the company's goal is
to cut beef emissions from its North American
beef supply chain by 30% by 2030. " We believe
agriculture provides significant opportunities
to reduce our carbon footprint and with the
help of ranchers and farmers already leading
efforts around this, we can continue to make
an impact, " Stoddart said.
Food Insecurity. To tackle food insecurity,
Cargill has created initiatives to address the
protein " gap " experienced by communities in
8 - NOVEMBER 2023
need across the US. For instance, the company
recently made a $4.9 million donation to the
Feeding America network of member food
banks. However, many local food banks lack
the necessary infrastructure to refrigerate
and repackage donated bulk proteins in a safe
way. Cargill's donation, Stoddart said, supports
increasing the supply of nutritious protein for
these banks to help bridge that gap.
Health. Cargill is dedicated to building
healthy communities for its colleagues and
neighbors. In support of the communities in
which it operates, such as in the Nebraska
cities of Columbus and Schuyler, where Cargill
has protein processing facilities, the company
made a $200,000 donation to The Columbus
Community Hospital Foundation in support
of the hospital's fieldhouse project. The new
facility will include tennis courts, a football field,
a soccer field, volleyball courts, basketball courts
and a suspended track for walking and running.
Diversity, equity and inclusion. Last
year Cargill Protein North America funded
a $2 million gift to help create the Wichita
Collective Impact, a collaboration with Wichita
non-profits and education communities.
The initiative works to increase education
success and workforce readiness in Wichita -
specifically in youth and career development
with the hopes of continuing to make Wichita
more diverse, equitable and inclusive.
To tackle all of the complex challenges
communities face, Cargill has deepened
its relationships with local communities,
Stoddart said.
supermarketperimeter.com
70%
of Americans believe it's
either " somewhat " or " very
important " for companies to
make the world a better place.
Just 37% believe it's most
important for a company to
make money for shareholders.
While businesses can't
completely disregard the
need to earn a profit, it's
clear that the general public
expects them to balance this
need against other priorities,
such as CSR initiatives.
Source: Harvard Business School
" Partnerships with leading non-profits,
universities and our customer partners are
an effective way to make a real difference in
the communities we serve, " he said. " Through
our extensive collaborations with partners
across regions and supply chains, we're
proactively addressing the needs of individual
communities - enabling them with greater
access, representation and a stronger voice. "
In addition, he said, Cargill is continuing
to tap into knowledge about its customers
and consumers in the food and protein
industry, given its mission of nourishing
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Supermarket Perimeter - November 2023

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