UK food business pledges to make a difference in Malawi

William Jackson Food Group (WJFG) has launched an initiative to help provide food security to a farming community in Malawi, Africa.

Owners of Abel & Cole, Aunt Bessie’s, Jackson’s Bakery and MyFresh, WJFG has committed £225,000 to the five-year project which aims to help a community of up to 1,000 farmers become self-sufficient by equipping them with the knowledge, skills and equipment needed to create a sustainable livelihood through organic farming techniques.

“Sustainability is at the heart of what we do at WJFG, so to be able to apply our expertise to the important pursuit of food security in Malawi is a powerful use of our knowledge and skills,” said Norman Soutar, WJFG's chief executive.

The company has released the first set of funds which will be used to buy seeds and livestock, as well as initiate training programmes.

The planning process has been in place for more than a year, and a dedicated project manager, Cintia Martinez from WJFG (pictured above) has visited Malawi to ensure the initiative will deliver tangible, long-lasting results for the village. She is working alongside The Cooperative College and the Malawi Organic Growers Association.