FoodForward SA (FFSA) brought South Africans together in cities across the country to celebrate World Food Day 2025.
Under the global theme, “Hand in Hand for Better Food and a Better Future,” which serves as a powerful reminder that when we join forces, we can achieve far more than we could alone. FFSA hosted food packing events in Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Durban.
Across all three regions, close to 300 volunteers, donors, and partners, including Kellavona, SPAR, Quantum Foods, Mars Foods, Rhodes Food Group, Marriott International, Ardagh Glass Packing, Compendium Insurance Brokers, Oceana Group, TFG, CHEP, RGA America, and Capitec, packed 1500 boxes of staple and nutritious food. These boxes were prepared for FFSA’s beneficiary organisations that collectively reach 935,100 people in need daily.
The day’s success highlighted the vital role of collective action across the food system, from corporates and retailers to manufacturers, logistics partners, and NGOs.
FFSA’s national food packing events showcased the real impact of collaboration in the fight against growing food insecurity and malnutrition.
Partners experienced FFSA’s impact first-hand by packing food boxes, sharing informal meals prepared from ingredients of surplus food, and connecting with beneficiary organisations that shared stories of hope and resilience amid the challenges they face daily. The atmosphere was one of unity and purpose, with each person playing a part in ensuring that good food reaches those who need it most.
“World Food Day reminds us that hunger is a challenge no single organisation can solve alone,” said Andy Du Plessis, Managing Director of FoodForward SA. “The success of today’s events across the country shows what’s possible when we work hand in hand. Together, we are not only providing nutritious food to those who need it most, but also building a more sustainable, food-secure future for all South Africans. Our deepest thanks go to everyone who joined us and continues to support our mission.”
The World Food Day activations build on FFSA’s ongoing commitment to reducing food insecurity and reducing food loss and waste. The day’s activities serve as a reminder that multisectoral collaboration is key to making a real difference.
Research shows that by 2030, a projected 582 million people globally will be chronically undernourished, more than half of them in Africa. In South Africa, one in five households face hunger, while a third of the food produced in the country goes to waste.
As South Africa and the world strive for a sustainable, food-secure future, FoodForward SA’s World Food Day events stand as a testament to what is possible when we work cooperatively. The journey continues, and together, we can build a better food future for all South Africans.