Expanded Funding Supports New Hunger-Relief Initiative with Rethink Food
ROSEMONT, Ill., April 30, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--US Foods Holding Corp. (NYSE: USFD), one of America’s largest foodservice distributors, today announced an increased strategic investment by more than 5-fold over the last 2 years in support of the company’s 2025 "Helping Communities Make It" programming. As communities face high rates of food insecurity, educational and job-training hardships, and the immediate and long-term consequences of natural disasters, this increased investment will enable new and expanded programming across the company’s three strategic community giving pillars: hunger relief, culinary education and disaster relief. US Foods associates will continue their integral role in supporting the program through year-round volunteer events.
"We are proud to support the continued expansion of our ‘Helping Communities Make It’ programming aimed at harnessing the power of food to empower communities in need with nourishment and opportunity," said Dave Flitman, CEO of US Foods. "As our roster of innovative community partnerships and initiatives continues to grow, we know we can make a meaningful difference in the communities we serve. We are honored to expand these important efforts and look forward to an impactful year of engaging community work."
The company now leverages nearly $4 million in support for the "Helping Communities Make It" programming, aligned with its three strategic giving pillars:
Hunger Relief: Eliminating hunger in the communities we serve
New to the company’s 2025 partner lineup is Rethink Food, a nonprofit organization that bridges the gap between restaurants with excess food and communities facing food insecurity. Rethink Food partners with local restaurants to purchase dignified meals made with surplus ingredients from restaurants that are then delivered to surrounding food-insecure communities. Since its launch in 2017, Rethink Food has directed more than $138 million in purchased meals to local restaurants, converted more than 2.7 million pounds of excess food into meals and distributed more than 30 million meals to food insecure communities across its Miami and New York networks. US Foods will be the exclusive flagship sponsor to bring Rethink Foods’ innovative meal-making program to the Chicago area, home of US Foods’ headquarters.
The company will also broaden its support of military families—a group disproportionately impacted by food insecurity—with legacy partner, Military Family Advisory Network (MFAN). US Foods will further expand MFAN’s Permanent Change of Station (PCS) Pantry Restock Box and Fresh Funds programs, which provide military families with groceries and economic resources during moves from base to base – when they are most vulnerable to food insecurity. Enhanced financial support will help MFAN optimize these programs for Texas military families stationed at Ft. Cavazos and support expanded programming in 2025 to Ft. Bliss, reaching more than 2,600 military families in 2025.
Amid rising food costs, more than 47 million people, including nearly 14 million children, face hunger in the United States1. This year, US Foods will continue to pursue innovative hunger-relief programming with its long-standing partner, Feeding America, providing direct support to its MealConnect® program. MealConnect® is a mobile application that helps donors, partner agencies, and food banks coordinate efforts by connecting ready-to-donate food with Feeding America’s network of local non-profits in need. Since its launch in 2015, MealConnect® has rescued more than 7 billion pounds of food.
Culinary Education: Empowering the next generation of culinary talent
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that there will be, on average, more than 24,000 openings for chefs and head cooks each year between 2023-20332, outpacing the average for all occupations. To help foster the industry’s future workforce, US Foods will continue its signature scholarship program, US Foods Scholars. Since 2017, more than $2 million in scholarships has been provided to nearly 100 students pursuing degrees in culinary arts, baking and pastry, chef training, and hospitality management. The company plans to award 18 scholarships in 2025 totaling $360,000.
Disaster Relief: Enabling communities to recover faster
New in 2025 is the US Foods "You Matter Fund", a company-funded associate assistance fund. The "You Matter Fund" provides individual grants to qualified US Foods associates to enable faster recovery from consequential financial hardships and emergencies.
In 2024, the country experienced 24 billion-dollar disasters that impacted tens of thousands of Americans. To help address this growing need, US Foods will continue to support the American Red Cross as a formal Red Cross Disaster Responder Program member, providing critical resources to help quickly mobilize before disaster strikes and offering year-round relief support.
Associate Engagement
This year, US Foods is launching its first-ever "Dollars for Doers" program which rewards associate volunteer time with charitable funds that the associate can then donate to a charity of their choice. The company will also continue its associate engagement opportunities with three major company-wide giving events: Spring into Service, Hunger Action Month and "Giving Gratitude" holiday drive.
For more information about the company’s commitment to Helping Communities Make It, visit usfoods.com/community.
With a promise to help its customers Make It, US Foods is one of America’s great food companies and a leading foodservice distributor, partnering with approximately 250,000 customer locations and foodservice operators to help their businesses succeed. With more than 70 broadline locations and more than 90 cash and carry stores, US Foods and its 30,000 associates provides its customers with a broad and innovative food offering and a comprehensive suite of e-commerce, technology and business solutions. US Foods is headquartered in Rosemont, Ill. Visit www.usfoods.com to learn more.
