What is the Banques Alimentaires’ scope of action?
France’s leading food aid network, with 111 branches including the French overseas territories, the Banques Alimentaires, or Food Banks, collect more than 120,000 tonnes of products – the equivalent of 241 million meals – every year from the food industry, farmers, supermarkets and the general public, with the support of the European Union and the French Government. Thanks to more than 7,700 volunteers and 618 salaried staff, they support nearly 2.4 million people exposed to food insecurity through 6,060 partner associations, CCAS (Communal Social Action Centres) and social grocery shops.
To meet food needs where current supplies are insufficient, in 2025 the Food Banks created RAYON®, a direct distribution network, particularly for young people and students.
Providers of social support through food, notably via their flagship programme Bons gestes & bonne assiette®, which aims to rebuild social ties and help improve health, the Banques Alimentaires also develop innovative local projects with a strong social impact: food processing workshops, development of short, socially responsible supply chains, mobile units, workshops and social inclusion projects.
How did the sponsorship agreement with Heppner come about and why is this type of partnership important to you?
We had already worked with several local Heppner branches, and it was the East Division that put our two management teams in touch with each other. The logistics skills and capabilities of a group like Heppner are essential to us. With the signature of a logistics partnership agreement in April 2024, we can now benefit from various forms of sponsorship, whether in kind, with free transport of goods where possible, technology, with the availability of employees as volunteers and the provision of vehicles during our national collection, or in the form of skills sponsorships. In addition, Heppner also provided financial support in 2024 in the form of a donation of €6,000.
How is this partnership working out and what are the next steps?
This partnership is based on a shared commitment, and we hope that each party will benefit from it and move it forward! We are in regular contact with Heppner’s CSR department, particularly through our quarterly steering committees, which enable us to coordinate our joint actions as effectively as possible. These exchanges highlight the involvement of the Heppner Group’s employees in the fight against poverty and hunger. Their commitment is a source of constant delight for us… With 10% of the French population suffering from food insecurity, we are very happy to have quality partners at our side who provide such valuable assistance.
