Hannaford Supermarkets says it donated nearly 29 million pounds of food to local food banks and pantries throughout the Northeast in 2025.
The donations, which equate to 24 million meals for individuals experiencing food insecurity, mark a record amount for the grocery retailer and signify another year of consistent growth for its food rescue program. Since 2022, Hannaford has increased its annual food donation totals by more than 15%.
The company says the increase reflects Hannaford’s deep, lasting care for the well-being of its communities and is the result of ongoing efforts to streamline its food rescue operations and expand the amount and variety of products it donates to local food banks and pantries.
“At Hannaford, our commitment to nourishing our communities goes beyond the shelves of our stores,” says Mike Vail, president of Hannaford Supermarkets. “Our associates work in tandem with trusted community partners to help ensure nutritious food reaches our neighbors in need every day. We’re proud to do our part to expand food access for families throughout the region and help families thrive.”
Rescuing Fresh Produce
A key component of Hannaford’s food donation work is its Fresh Rescue program. Through the program, all 188 Hannaford stores donate nutritious, quality unsold food — including fresh produce, meat and dairy products — to local food pantry partners daily.
Each day, Hannaford associates assess and identify products for donation. Produce may have bruises, shelf items may have damaged packaging, and meat or dairy may be near its sell-by date. However, all items are safe and nutritious to eat.
Each store partners with at least one local food pantry that visits the store to pick up the donated product directly. In 2025, Hannaford provided direct donations to eight food banks and more than 450 partner organizations through the Fresh Rescue program.
“Every day, I see firsthand the dedication of our associates to making this program a success,” says Jon Fortier, store manager at the Hannaford in China, Maine, and Fresh Rescue champion for all Hannaford stores in Maine. “Whether it’s carefully sorting fresh produce or coordinating with our community partners, our teams are committed to making a meaningful difference and ensuring that nutritious food reaches those who need it most.”
Feeding a Need
The increase in donations from Hannaford comes as hunger relief organizations across the region report a steady increase in need for food in the communities they serve. Nationally, 48 million people live in food-insecure households, and hunger rates among youth continue to rise, with 1 in 5 children in the U.S. facing food insecurity.
In its home state of Maine, Hannaford partners with Good Shepherd Food Bank and its network of local pantries to increase impact by connecting agencies directly to stores, allowing them to receive and distribute food quickly and efficiently.
“Good Shepherd Food Bank is incredibly grateful for our partnership with Hannaford and their commitment to fighting hunger in Maine,” says Heather Paquette, president of Good Shepherd Food Bank. “Their Fresh Rescue program provides a steady source of high-quality free food for charitable food programs across the state that are serving the more than 190,000 Mainers who live with food insecurity.”
In 2025, Hannaford donated the following amounts to local food bank partners by state:
- Maine — 13 million pounds of food, which equates to 11 million meals in partnership with Good Shepherd Food Bank.
- New Hampshire — 5 million pounds of food, which equates to 4 million meals in partnership with New Hampshire Food Bank.
- New York — 6.5 million pounds of food, which equates to 5.4 million meals in partnership with Food Bank of Central New York and Regional Food Bank.
- Massachusetts — 2 million pounds of food, which equates to 1.6 million meals in partnership with Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, The Greater Boston Food Bank and Worcester County Food Bank.
- Vermont — 2.5 million pounds of food, which equates to 2 million meals in partnership with Vermont Foodbank.
In addition to its food donation efforts, Hannaford says it also invested a total of nearly $2 million to hunger relief organizations across the region last year, including supporting programs that work to expand access to fresh, locally grown food.
