Bel Canada, a key player in the food industry specializing in dairy, fruit, and vegetable products, has partnered with Congebec, Canada’s leading logistics provider for chilled and frozen foods, and Food Banks of Quebec (FBQ) to launch a groundbreaking initiative focused on reducing food waste and supporting food-insecure communities. The strategic alliance aligns with Bel Canada and Congebec’s shared commitment to optimizing the food supply chain while addressing growing food insecurity across the province.
“At Bel Group, our mission is to provide healthy and responsible food for everyone. We are proud of the tangible measures we have implemented to achieve our goal of zero product destruction in our Canadian operations, particularly at our Babybel® manufacturing plant in Sorel-Tracy,” said Marie-Eve Robert, VP of Marketing and CSR at Bel Canada. “More than 46% of food is wasted every year in Canada.”
“The program, in collaboration with Congebec and Food Banks of Quebec, will play a key role in the fight against food waste and insecurity while optimizing the performance of our supply chain. As a sector leader, we hope our commitment will encourage other companies to join this great collaboration.”
Congebec’s Unique Role in Food Recovery and Redistribution
Congebec has spearheaded this initiative by leveraging its extensive logistics expertise to recover unsellable but edible food from the supply chain. The program operates in three strategic phases: offering free storage space to the Food Banks of Quebec, encouraging its customers to participate in food recovery, and providing logistics support to ensure optimal redistribution of surplus products.
“Our expertise in logistics and freezing is unique in the food supply chain, and that is why we are committed to supporting the food aid network to preserve food and enable its optimal distribution,” stated Nicholas-P. Pedneault, CEO of Congebec. “Since the official announcement of our partnership with Food Banks of Quebec in 2023, the impact on our communities in terms of food aid and through our crucial role in preventing food waste has been strongly felt. The freezing services we offer give food banks access to high-value products like Bel Canada’s. Through this new partnership, we want to demonstrate that, as a corporate citizen, we have an important role to play in the fight against food waste and food insecurity.”
Surging Food Insecurity in Quebec
The need for food assistance in Quebec has surged in recent years. According to FBQ, food aid requests have increased by 13% since 2023, with over one million additional requests since 2021. Alarmingly, 35% of food bank beneficiaries are children, while 36% are adults living alone, and 20% are individuals with employment as their primary income source.
“Since 2019, requests have been increasing at an unprecedented rate. Our members are doing everything they can to meet the demand. Unfortunately, we do not see any signs of a slowdown that would suggest a brighter future, and the Aviseo study confirms this,” said Martin Munger, Executive Director of Food Banks of Quebec. “We strongly believe that collaboration is the key to fighting food insecurity, which is why this innovative partnership with Bel Canada and Congebec is so valuable. We hope this initiative will encourage other companies and industry leaders to join us.”
About Bel Canada
Bel Canada is a subsidiary of the Bel Group, a global leader in branded cheese and healthy snacks, distributing its products in nearly 120 countries. Established in 2005 to expand the Group’s presence in Canada, the company now employs 250 people, including 95 at its Montreal headquarters. Its brands, including Boursin®, The Laughing Cow®, and Babybel®, are either produced locally or through strategic partnerships. Additionally, Bel Canada owns MOM Group, the company behind GoGo squeeZ® fruit pouches.
About Congebec
Congebec is a multi-temperature logistics provider specializing in value-added distribution services for the food, retail, and packaged goods industries. The company ranks seventh in North America and 13th globally in its field, with 11 modern facilities spanning Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta, totaling over 65 million cubic feet of storage. Committed to food safety and sustainability, Congebec plays a pivotal role in Canada’s food supply chain.
About Food Banks of Quebec
The Food Banks of Quebec (FBQ) network supports 34 regional food distribution centres, many of which operate under the Moisson name, assisting 1,300 community organizations across the province. These organizations provide food aid to over 556,000 people each month. Since its establishment in 1988, FBQ has facilitated the sharing of resources, expertise, and information to combat hunger and food insecurity.
