SecondBite will triple its food relief capacity across Victoria over the next decade, supported by a $5 million Victorian Government investment to expand its Derrimut distribution centre.
The funding will support the fit-out of SecondBite’s new Derrimut warehouse and contribute to the purchase of the facility, significantly increasing the organisation’s capacity to collect, store and distribute rescued food across the state.
The expansion is expected to increase SecondBite’s food relief volume to the equivalent of 100 million meals over the next decade, double its support to regional Victoria and reach an additional 316,000 households experiencing food insecurity.
The investment comes at a critical time for Victorians who face increasing financial strain, with 54% fearing they may not have enough money for food over the next six months[1]. Around one in three Victorian households experience food insecurity each year[2], with regional and rural communities often facing additional barriers to accessing fresh, nutritious food.
Daniel Moorfield, Chief Executive Officer of SecondBite, said the investment would be transformational for Victoria’s food relief system.
“This investment is a game changer for food relief across Victoria,” Mr Moorfield said.
“Demand for food relief continues to grow as more households face cost-of-living pressures, and this expansion will strengthen our ability to rescue and redistribute more food to the people who need it most.
“The new Derrimut facility will enable us to dramatically increase our capacity, tripling the volume of food relief we provide to the equivalent of 100 million meals over the next decade, doubling our support to regional Victoria, and helping reach an additional 316,000 households experiencing food insecurity.
“This is especially important for regional communities, where food relief services are often stretched and supply chains can be more challenging. Expanding our logistics and storage capability means we can move more fresh food, more efficiently, to more communities across Victoria.
“We are incredibly grateful for the Victorian Government’s support. This investment will help ensure more good food reaches communities across the state, while reducing food waste and building a stronger, more sustainable food relief system for the future.”
The Derrimut facility will strengthen SecondBite’s statewide food rescue network, improving access to nutritious food, reducing waste and building greater resilience for vulnerable communities across metropolitan and regional Victoria.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Carers and Volunteers Luba Grigorovitch:
“The investment in SecondBite’s Derrimut expansion will boost Victoria’s food relief infrastructure at a time when more families are facing cost-of-living pressures.
“SecondBite plays a critical role in rescuing quality surplus food and redirecting it to communities in need. This funding will expand food relief across the state, substantially increasing support for regional Victoria and helping ensure food reaches those that need it most.”
