News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
DATE:
 September 20, 2017
CONTACT: Kathy Romanowski
716-635-5577

   
TOPS AND SMITHFIELD TEAM UP TO IMPACT LOCAL FOOD BANKSDURING NAT'L FAMILY MEALSMONTH
Williamsville, NY – With an aim to inspire families to eat at home together more often, Tops Friendly Markets is celebrating National Family Meals Month™ during the month of September, encouraging customers to share one more meal together per week at home, by highlighting how affordable and healthier meal solutions can be found in nearly every aisle, every day. Together with Smithfield Foods, Inc, TOPS is asking the community to join them in Raising Your Mitt to Commit™ not only to sharing one more meal together per week at home, but to participate in an online challenge that will benefit area food banks. Thanks to the generous support of Smithfield Foods, Inc., until the end of September for every share the community makes of the “Raise Your Mitt to Commit” video found on the TOPS Facebook page, one meal will be donated to a local Food Bank. “At TOPS, we are committed to helping eradicate hunger. Through a variety of corporate, supplier, and customer donations programs, TOPS distributes over $4 million each year to help feed those in need and this is yet another way we’re looking to give back,” said Kathy Romanowski, public and media relations specialist for Tops Friendly Markets. “At the Food Bank of WNY, we know that good health starts with the ability to access well-balanced, nutritious meals. Unfortunately, nearly 179,000 Western New Yorkers may not know where their next meal will come from. As the Food Bank of WNY continues to fight hunger one day at a time, we are thankful for the partnership of Tops Friendly Markets, Smithfield Foods, Inc. and all those who will ‘raise their mitts to commit’ this month in order to support hungry local families,” said Catherine Shick, Public & Community Relations Manager for the Food Bank of WNY. “Smithfield is proud to sponsor the ‘Raise Your Mitt’ campaign in partnership with Tops Friendly Markets to support Food Marketing Institute’s Family Meals Month,” said a spokesperson for Smithfield. The goal of this campaign is to encourage families to eat one more meal together each week, and to raise awareness across the country that many families do not have enough food to make meals together. It’s our privilege to support the local food banks and we want to thank them for their ongoing and tireless efforts in the community.” To learn more about National Family Meals Month and the Raise Your Mitt to Commit Challenge, simply go to the TOPS Facebook page, @topsfriendlymarkets or topsmarkets.com. ### About Tops Friendly Markets Tops Markets, LLC, is headquartered in Williamsville, NY and operates 173 full-service supermarkets with five additional by franchisees under the Tops banner. Tops employs more than 15,000 associates and is a leading full-service grocery retailer in New York, northern Pennsylvania, western Vermont, and north central Massachusetts. For more information about Tops Markets, visit the company's website at www.topsmarkets.com.

About Smithfield Food Smithfield Foods is a $15 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?, John Morrell?, Cook's?, Kretschmar?, Gwaltney?, Curly's?, Margherita?, Carando?, Healthy Ones?, Krakus?, Morliny? and Berlinki?. 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 National Family Meals Month™ As the voice of food retail, the Food Marketing Institute created National Family Meals Month™ as a nationwide, annual event to highlight the mealtime solutions offered by grocers and to encourage families to share one more meal at home per week. 'Source Note: Cornell University College of Human Ecology Department of Policy Analysis and Management: Do Family Meals Really Make a Difference?, Eliza Cook, Rachel Dunifon. 2012; Accessed [date], http://www.human.cornell.edu/pam/outreach/upload/Family-Mealtimes-2.pdf

 

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