Edmonton based Food Company partners with IKEA nationally

October 12, 2016
News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
IKEA Canada Announces New Addition to Sustainable Food Offering
IKEA Canada partners with The Earth Group to offer sustainable bottled
water across Canadian network in support of the World Food Programme
Burlington, ON. – IKEA Canada today reaffirms its commitment to
sustainable food offerings by announcing a partnership with Edmonton-based
organization, The Earth Group. Starting today, IKEA will be selling Earth
Water in all stores nationally, in support of the United Nations World Food
Programme (WFP).
Earth Water is locally sourced Canadian water that is packaged in 100 per
cent recycled PET bottles that are also landfill biodegradable. The Earth
Group exists entirely to feed and educate children in need. Since 2010, they
have provided funding to WFP for a minimum of 400,000 school meals each
year. School meals not only provide children with the nutrition and energy
they need to focus on their lessons, but also boost school attendance,
retention and graduation rates.
“We are thrilled to support The Earth Group as part of our mission to help
Canadians live more sustainably,” said Danielle Beauchesne, food manager at
IKEA Canada. “The Earth Group’s goal to provide food, water and education
for children aligns with IKEA’s commitments to help those in the areas we
serve.”
To date, The Earth Group has provided WFP with funding to distribute 1.5
million school meals to children around the world. Through this new
partnership, all net profits from the sale of Earth Water at IKEA locations
across Canada will directly benefit WFP’s work to facilitate school meals for
children in some of the world’s most vulnerable areas.
“The World Food Programme is the world’s leading humanitarian agency
fighting hunger worldwide. We are proud to support their efforts in
partnership with IKEA Canada,” said Matt Moreau, co-founder of Earth Group.
“As a leading Canadian retailer when it comes to sustainability, we look
forward to what we can accomplish together through the sale of Earth Water.”
IKEA’s sustainability direction is outlined by its “People + Planet Positive”
strategy: to inspire and enable millions of people to live a more sustainable
life at home; to pursue resource and energy independence; and to take the
lead in creating a better life for people. IKEA is one of Canada’s largest
restaurants, serving over 9 million visitors a year. For this reason, it is
important for IKEA to serve a variety of sustainably produced food and drinks
for the many Canadians.
ABOUT IKEA CANADA:
IKEA is a leading home furnishing retailer with 375 stores in more than 50
countries worldwide, which are visited by 884 million people every year. IKEA
Canada has 12 stores, an eCommerce virtual store, 6 Pick-up and order
points in Quebec City and southern Ontario and two Collection Points in
Halifax and Saskatoon. The company also recently announced plans to open
stores in Halifax and Quebec City. Last year, IKEA Canada welcomed 25
million visitors to its stores and 75 million visitors to the IKEA.ca website.
Founded in 1943, IKEA’s business philosophy is to offer a wide range of
products of good design and function at prices so low, the majority of people
can afford them. For more information on IKEA, please visit: www.IKEA.ca.
ABOUT THE EARTH GROUP
The Earth Group was established eleven years ago and exists entirely to
provide food, water, and education to children globally. This is achieved
through a worldwide agreement with the United Nations World Food
Programme (WFP) that sees the company providing a minimum of 400,000
school meals to children annually. The organization has funded programs
globally, most recently in Kenya, Bolivia and the Philippines, and aims to
provide another 1,000,000 meals in 2017.
ABOUT WFP:
WFP is the world’s largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide,
delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to
improve nutrition and build resilience. Each year, WFP assists some 80 million
people in around 80 countries. www.wfp.org
Follow on Twitter @wfp_media

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
IKEA CANADA
Stephanie Kerr
Corporate Press Officer
905-637-9440 ext. 6378
stephanie.kerr@IKEA.com