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Source: Smithfield Foods

Smithfield and ShopRite Partner to Donate 60,000 Pounds of Food to the Community Foodbank of New Jersey as Part of Smithfield’s Nationwide “Helping Hungry Homes” Tour

Donation Will Provide More Than 175,000 Servings to New Jersey Families

HILLSIDE, N.J., May 24, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In partnership with ShopRite, Smithfield’s Helping Hungry Homes program made the ninth stop on its nationwide hunger-relief tour this morning to donate 35,000 pounds of protein to the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. The donation will help the food bank continue to serve more than 900,000 people in the Newark area and 18 New Jersey counties.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b01af076-d67c-4c6e-8681-a70c7ea63d13

Helping Hungry Homes, now in its eighth year, is Smithfield’s coast-to-coast program to help Americans become more food secure. This year, the program will help fight hunger through more than 30 large-scale protein donations to food banks across the United States totaling more than 3.4 million servings. To date, Helping Hungry Homes has provided more than 38 million servings of protein to food banks across America.

Representatives from Smithfield and ShopRite presented the donation during an event on Tuesday, May 24 at the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, located at 31 Evans Terminal, Hillside, NJ 07205.

“On behalf of those we serve, the Community FoodBank of New Jersey is very grateful for this generous donation from Smithfield,” said Tim Vogel, director of food sourcing for the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. “35,000 pounds -- 17 ½ tons -- of much-needed meat and protein will make a real difference for hungry people. We appreciate the ongoing partnership and support of Smithfield and ShopRite.”

"ShopRite is proud to donate 25,000 pounds of fresh produce to accompany Smithfield's donation of 35,000 pounds of protein to the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. This is an important retailer partnership that will provide nutritious meals for those in need," said Christine Magyarits, ShopRite's community relations manager.

“Smithfield is proud to partner with ShopRite to provide the Community FoodBank of New Jersey with this donation through our Helping Hungry Homes program,” said Dennis Pittman, Smithfield senior director of corporate communications and public affairs. “As a food company, it’s our responsibility to help our neighbors in need. This donation will provide more than 240,000 servings of wholesome protein and produce to families and individuals suffering from hunger.”

About Smithfield
A leading provider of high-quality pork products, Smithfield was founded in 1936 in Smithfield, Virginia, establishing the town as the “Ham Capital of the World.” From hand-trimmed bacon and slow-smoked holiday hams to marinated tenderloins, Smithfield brings artistry, authenticity and a commitment to heritage, flavor, and handcrafted excellence to everything it produces. With a vast product portfolio including smoked meats, hams, bacon, sausage, ribs, and a wide variety of fresh pork cuts, the company services retail, foodservice, and deli channels across the United States and 30 countries abroad. All of Smithfield's products meet the highest quality and safety standards in the industry. To learn more about how Flavor Hails from Smithfield, please visit www.Smithfield.com, www.Twitter.com/SmithfieldBrand, and www.Facebook.com/CookingWithSmithfield. Smithfield is a brand of Smithfield Foods.

About Smithfield Foods
Smithfield Foods is a $14 billion global food company and the world's largest pork processor and hog producer. In the United States, the company is also the leader in numerous packaged meats categories with popular brands including Smithfield®, Eckrich®, Nathan's Famous®, Farmland®, Armour®, Cook's®, John Morrell®, Gwaltney®, Kretschmar®, Margherita®, Curly's®, Carando® and Healthy Ones®. Smithfield Foods is committed to providing good food in a responsible way and maintains robust animal care, community involvement, employee safety, environmental and food safety and quality programs. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com.

About ShopRite
ShopRite is the registered trademark of Wakefern Food Corp., a retailer-owned cooperative based in Keasbey, NJ, and the largest supermarket cooperative in the United States.  With 264 ShopRite supermarkets located throughout New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware and Maryland, ShopRite serves more than six million customers each week.  A long-time supporter of key community efforts, ShopRite is dedicated to fighting hunger in the communities it serves.  Through its ShopRite Partners In Caring program, ShopRite has donated $40 million to 2,000 worthy charities and food banks since the program began in 1999.  As a title sponsor of the LPGA’s ShopRite Classic, ShopRite has raised nearly $30 million for local organizations, hospitals and community groups.  For more information, please visit www.ShopRite.com.

About Community FoodBank of New Jersey
Community FoodBank of New Jersey, a member of Feeding America, distributes food to more than 1,000 partner charities including pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, mobile pantries, and child and senior feeding programs. Community FoodBank of New Jersey distributes more than 44 million pounds of food a year, and more than 4.7 million times a year, someone in need is fed by Community FoodBank of New Jersey’s network of partner charities. Community FoodBank of New Jersey’s mission is to fight hunger in New Jersey by assisting those in need and seeking long-term solutions. We will empower all sectors of society in this battle.

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