Harvest Manitoba

What Harvest Manitoba does

Harvest Manitoba is a not-for-profit, community-based food bank and food redistribution organization founded in 1985 (originally as Winnipeg Harvest) and headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The organization operates as a centralized food distribution hub that collects and redistributes approximately 13 million pounds of healthy and nutritious food annually to more than 50,000 Manitobans who visit food banks each month, and supports over 108,000 Manitobans monthly across 51 communities—double the figure from five years ago. It is the only provincial food bank network in Manitoba, distributing to 380+ food banks and agencies in every region of the province and recognized as the 4th largest food distributor of its kind in Canada.

Harvest's service portfolio spans core food distribution (Harvest Hampers providing 2–3 days of food per household), targeted programs including First Steps (infant nutrition for mothers with infants), Meals2Go (serving 7,000 students weekly across 18 schools), Market Garden (client-choice fresh produce distribution), Grow-a-Row (community gardening yielding ~100,000 lbs annually), the 6-week Warehouse Training Program (paid skills training with WHMIS, Safe Food Handling, and First Aid certifications), and a Community Volunteer Income Tax Return Program that has returned over $1.7M in benefits/refunds to 450+ Manitobans. The organization is also developing the Manitoba Food Transformation Centre, a $30-million, 100,000 sq. ft. facility targeted for 2028 that will more than double capacity to 28 million pounds annually using flash-freezing technology, a commercial kitchen producing 520,000 meals annually, and expanded cold storage.

The business model is donation-funded, not commercial: revenue is generated through individual monetary donations (including the Harvest365 monthly giving program at $30/month), corporate partnerships and sponsorships (Walmart, Loblaw, Canadian Tire, Sobeys, RBC, FCC, Manitoba Pork, etc.), in-kind food donations from grocery retailers and producers, government grants (Government of Canada and Province of Manitoba for the Transformation Centre), and signature event fundraising including the Empty Bowls Celebrity Auction Gala (over $1.4M raised in 2025) and the Lee Newton Memorial Golf Tournament. The organization does not sell products or services. Its underlying technology stack is modest and non-proprietary: Link2Feed client intake software (shared with Food Banks Canada), Donor Perfect for online donation processing, BetterImpact for volunteer management, Constant Contact for email, and standard warehouse logistics equipment.

Name

Harvest Manitoba

Legal name

Harvest Manitoba

Website

https://harvestmanitoba.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Harvest Manitoba is a not-for-profit food bank network founded in 1985 that collects and distributes 13 million pounds of food annually to over 108,000 Manitobans monthly across 380+ partner agencies, through donation-funded programs including Harvest Hampers, Meals2Go, First Steps, and a planned $30M Food Transformation Centre.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Food Bank Services

NAICS

Community Food Services (624210)

akta.pro primary industry

Food Assistance & Food Banks (BPAGAEAA)

Keywords

• Food bank services
• Food redistribution programs
• Food security services
• Community food assistance
• Food donation programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Winnipeg

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Monetary Donations: One-time and recurring cash donations from individuals, including monthly giving through the Harvest365 program ($1/day or $30/month minimum). Individual donations are the primary revenue source.
2. Corporate Partnerships & Sponsorships: Financial and in-kind support from corporations including food donations, event sponsorships, employee volunteer programs, and cause-marketing campaigns.
3. Food Donations (In-Kind): Donations of food from grocery retailers, food producers, manufacturers, and community food drives. Food is redistributed to the food bank network and individuals in need rather than sold.
4. Government Grants: Funding from the Government of Canada and Province of Manitoba, including for the Manitoba Food Transformation Centre public-private partnership.
5. Event Fundraising: Revenue raised through signature events including the Empty Bowls Celebrity Auction Gala ($1.4M raised in 2025), Lee Newton Memorial Golf Tournament, and community events.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Harvest Manitoba is a not-for-profit food bank that collects donated and surplus food and redistributes it to 380+ food banks and agencies across Manitoba, reaching over 108,000 Manitobans monthly. Core offerings include Harvest Hampers (2–3 day food supply), specialized programs (Meals2Go for students, First Steps for infants, Market Garden fresh produce, Grow-a-Row community gardening, Warehouse Training Program, and tax-filing assistance), and signature fundraising events (Empty Bowls Gala, Lee Newton Memorial Golf Tournament).

Product overview

Harvest Manitoba is a not-for-profit food bank network that operates as a centralized food distribution hub serving Manitoba. The organization functions as both a food bank and a community support network, distributing food to more than 380 food banks and agencies across the province. Its core products include Harvest Hampers (2-3 day food supply distributed monthly), the First Steps infant nutrition program, and Meals2Go weekend breakfast program for students. Additional programs include Grow-a-Row community gardening, Market Garden fresh produce distribution, Warehouse Training Program job skills training, Need Tax Help tax filing assistance, and Education Programs for schools. The organization runs signature fundraising events including the Empty Bowls Celebrity Auction and Lee Newton Memorial Golf Tournament. Harvest365 is its monthly giving program. A major upcoming initiative is the Manitoba Food Transformation Centre (targeting 2028), a $30-million facility that will expand food processing and distribution capacity. The network supports over 50,000 Manitobans monthly who visit food banks, with 108,000 Manitobans accessing programs every month.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Meals2Go: Weekend breakfast program serving 7,000 students every week across 18 schools in Winnipeg, northern Manitoba, and Brandon
• First Steps
• Manitoba Food Transformation Centre
• Harvest365
• Grow-a-Row
• Warehouse Training Program

Products and services

• Harvest Hampers Supply of 2 to 3 days' worth of food including fresh and non-perishable items (canned vegetables, bread, fruit, yogurt, pasta, canned meat, soup). Prepared at the Winnipeg warehouse and distributed to individuals and families facing food insecurity across Manitoba.
• First Steps Nutrition program providing baby formula, baby cereal, diapers, and infant care essentials to mothers with infants facing poverty, completely donor funded.
• Meals2Go Weekend breakfast program serving 7,000 students every week across 18 schools in Winnipeg, northern Manitoba, and Brandon. Provides nutritious take-home food kits for Saturday and Sunday when school meal programs are unavailable.
• Need Tax Help? (Community Volunteer Income Tax Return Program) Free tax filing assistance program helping Manitobans file their taxes; the program helped 450+ Manitobans recover over $1.7 million in benefits and refunds.
• Market Garden Fresh produce distribution program serving neighbours in geographic areas of high need and low food access, using a client-choice, market-style distribution where individuals choose the products they take home.
• Grow-a-Row Community gardening initiative where participants grow extra produce to donate to Harvest Manitoba; yields approximately 100,000 pounds of produce annually.
• Warehouse Training Program 6-week paid skills training program combining classroom learning and hands-on warehouse work for Manitobans facing food insecurity and workforce entry barriers. Graduates earn certifications in WHMIS (2015), Safe Food Handling, and First Aid, and develop expertise in shipping/receiving and warehouse equipment operation.
• Education Programs Educational offerings for schools and groups including warehouse tours, presentations on food security, volunteer opportunities, Empty Bowls school project, food drives, and community garden programs aligned with Standard Learning Objectives.
• Harvest365 (Monthly Giving Program) Monthly giving program where donors contribute $1/day (minimum $30/month) to support food bank operations; members receive exclusive benefits including site tours and a quarterly newsletter.
• Corporate Partnerships Customized corporate engagement program offering volunteer involvement, food and fund drives, program-specific support (Meals2Go, Grow-a-Row), event volunteering, and skills-based volunteering for businesses.
• Tins for the Bin / Food Drives Community food drive program with yellow Harvest bins at grocery store entrances for in-store donations. Top needed items include canned fruit, soup/stew, tuna, vegetables, pasta, rice, peanut butter, baby formula, and oatmeal.
• Gift of Securities Tax-advantaged donation program for publicly-traded stock and securities that avoids capital gains tax and provides a tax receipt for the full appreciated value of the donation.
• Empty Bowls Celebrity Auction Gala Annual signature fundraising event featuring a gourmet soup and bread dinner, celebrity-painted bowls auction, and live auction packages. Raised over $1.4 million in 2025.
• Lee Newton Memorial Golf Tournament Annual golf tournament at St. Boniface Golf Club bringing together community leaders, corporate sponsors, and Harvest supporters for fundraising.
• Manitoba Food Transformation Centre Planned $30-million, 100,000 sq. ft. facility that will recover, process, and distribute food that would otherwise go to waste. Will more than double capacity to 28 million pounds annually and help 20,000+ more families, featuring flash-freezing technology, a commercial kitchen producing 520,000 meals annually, bagging and sorting stations, expanded cold storage, and improved shipping/receiving. Target opening 2028.
• Northern and Remote Community Food Delivery Food delivery service by air and ice road to remote northern Manitoba communities in partnership with First Nations and Indigenous-led organizations. Over 250,000 lbs of nutritious food delivered as of 2024.

Quantifiable outcome

• 13 million pounds of food distributed annually to 108,000+ Manitobans
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

31 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and high-profile.

• PurolatormajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 December 2025Purolator donated eight retired delivery trucks to food banks across Canada as part of its Purolator Tackle Hunger campaign. As part of this initiative, Harvest Manitoba received support to help food banks reach more Canadians facing hunger. Purolator plans to expand the program in 2026.
• Food Banks CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood Banks Canada is the national charitable organization dedicated to helping Canadians living with hunger. It provides Harvest Manitoba with the Link2Feed Client Intake software, national network connections, shared standards of confidentiality, research, and advocacy support. Both organizations collaborate on data sharing, program coordination, and eliminating duplication of efforts.
• Manitoba Chicken ProducerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManitoba Chicken Producers, through their Caring for Communities initiative, contributes 1,000 frozen chickens weekly to Harvest Manitoba. These chickens are processed by Dunn-Rite Foods and Exceldor Cooperative and distributed through Harvest Hampers to families across Manitoba. The program has been running for multiple years.
• Manitoba Egg FarmerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManitoba Egg Farmers provides 10,000 eggs weekly for Harvest Hampers. In 2025, Manitoba Egg Farmers doubled the impact of their egg donations to Harvest Manitoba. They also sponsor the Empty Bowls Celebrity Auction Gala (Chef Sponsor level) and the Lee Newton Memorial Golf Tournament (Hire a Pro Sponsor).
• Manitoba PorkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManitoba Pork invested $150,000 in a partnership that benefits 18 rural and urban food banks throughout Manitoba. Fresh pork is delivered through this partnership to help the 100,000+ Manitobans Harvest Manitoba supports every month. Manitoba Pork is a Major Donor and Golf Tournament sponsor.
• FCC (Farm Credit Canada)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn October 2025, Harvest Manitoba and FCC announced an investment to address food waste and food security. FCC is a financial institution that supports Canadian agriculture and food systems. The partnership aligns with Harvest's goal of recovering surplus food from producers.
• Dolly Partonhigh-profileGTM or Marketing PartnerDolly Parton appeared at the 2025 Harvest Manitoba Empty Bowls Dinner to help address food insecurity in Manitoba. Her participation generated significant media attention and fundraising for the event, which raised over $1.4 million.
• Walmart CanadamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWalmart Canada is a major corporate partner and donor of Harvest Manitoba. The partnership includes food donations, corporate volunteering, and cause-marketing support.
• Loblaw CompaniesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLoblaw Companies (including No Frills, Real Canadian Superstore, and Zehrs) is a major food donor and corporate partner of Harvest Manitoba. Loblaw is also a Bowl Sponsor for the Empty Bowls Celebrity Auction Gala.
• Canadian TiremajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCanadian Tire is a major corporate partner and donor of Harvest Manitoba, contributing food donations and corporate support.
• SobeysmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSobeys is a major corporate partner and food donor of Harvest Manitoba. Sobeys is also a Ladle Sponsor for the Empty Bowls Celebrity Auction Gala.
• Winnipeg Free Press (The Free Press)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerWinnipeg Free Press is a Hearty Soup Sponsor for the Empty Bowls Celebrity Auction Gala and provides ongoing media coverage and editorial support for Harvest Manitoba's programs and events.
• WawanesamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWawanesa is a major corporate partner and donor of Harvest Manitoba. Wawanesa is also a Ladle Sponsor for the Empty Bowls Celebrity Auction Gala.
• Maximize Your Business Impact (Maxim Truck & Trailers)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaxim Truck & Trailers is a major donor and corporate partner, providing in-kind support including forklift donations that are crucial to warehouse operations, loading and unloading 11,000,000 pounds of food per year. Maxim is a Bowl Sponsor for the Empty Bowls Celebrity Auction Gala.
• Manitoba Blue CrossmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerManitoba Blue Cross is a Major Donor (2023/24) and a Hole Sponsor for the Lee Newton Memorial Golf Tournament. They are also a Ladle Sponsor for the Empty Bowls Celebrity Auction Gala.
• Winnipeg Blue BombersmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerHarvest Manitoba partners with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for community events at Princess Auto Stadium. Multiple Blue Bomber Game events are hosted with Harvest Manitoba presence, driving community engagement and fundraising.
• KinsmenmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKinsmen (Kin-Canada / Winnipeg Kinsmen) is a Major Donor (2023/24) and long-time supporter of Harvest Manitoba. The Kinsmen have supported Harvest for many years, including hosting charity BBQs at Maxim Truck & Trailer.
• RBC (Royal Bank of Canada)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerRBC hosts the Empty Bowls Celebrity Auction Gala at the RBC Convention Centre Winnipeg. RBC's Chair, Shawn MacDonald, also serves as Chair of Harvest Manitoba's Board of Directors.
• QualicomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerQualico is a Major Donor and sponsor of Harvest Manitoba. Qualico is a Ladle Sponsor for the Empty Bowls Celebrity Auction Gala and supports the Lee Newton Memorial Golf Tournament.
• Red River Co-opmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRed River Co-op is a Major Donor (2023/24) supporting Harvest Manitoba. They have hosted community events to benefit Harvest.
• PCL ConstructionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPCL Construction is a corporate partner and donor of Harvest Manitoba, supporting the organization's infrastructure and programs.
• Peak of the MarketmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPeak of the Market is a corporate partner and donor providing fresh produce to Harvest Manitoba. Peak of the Market is a Ladle Sponsor for the Empty Bowls Celebrity Auction Gala.
• Maple Leaf FoodsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaple Leaf Foods is a Hearty Soup Sponsor for the Empty Bowls Celebrity Auction Gala and a corporate supporter of Harvest Manitoba's food security mission.
• Exchange Income Corp (EIC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExchange Income Corp is a Chef Sponsor for the Empty Bowls Celebrity Auction Gala and supports Harvest Manitoba's fundraising events.
• True North Sports + EntertainmentmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerTrue North Sports + Entertainment is a sponsor of the Empty Bowls Celebrity Auction Gala, supporting Harvest Manitoba's largest annual fundraising event.
• CBC Manitoba / CBC Make the Season KindmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCBC Manitoba's Make the Season Kind campaign has raised significant funds for Harvest Manitoba, including $306,037 in a previous holiday campaign. The campaign uses a food truck at Zoo Lights events to collect donations.
• CPKC (Canadian Pacific Kansas City) Holiday TrainmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe CPKC Holiday Train stops in Manitoba to raise funds and food donations for Harvest Manitoba, combining music events with community fundraising.
• First Nations and Indigenous-Led OrganizationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHarvest Manitoba works in partnership with First Nations and Indigenous-led organizations to deliver food to northern and remote communities. As of 2024, over 250,000 lbs of food has been delivered by air and ice road through these partnerships.
• Regional Food Distribution AssociationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Regional Food Distribution Association partnered with Harvest Manitoba and Food Banks Canada to deliver 4,000 pounds of food to northern First Nations reserves in Shamattawa and Fort Severn.
• Dunn-Rite Foods / Exceldor CooperativemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDunn-Rite Foods and Exceldor Cooperative process the chickens donated by Manitoba Chicken Producers for distribution through Harvest Manitoba's food bank network.
• YES Manitoba, Ready Set Go Work Program, EDGE Skills Centre Inc., Island Lake First Nations Family ServicesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThese organizations refer participants to Harvest Manitoba's 6-week Warehouse Training Program, which provides paid skills training and employment support for Manitobans facing food insecurity and workforce entry barriers.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Feed Ontario: Provincial food bank association representing Ontario's regional food banks; equivalent in role to Harvest Manitoba at the provincial level, providing infrastructure, training, and coordination for the Ontario network.
• Edmonton Food Bank: Large Alberta food bank operating a centralized distribution model serving Edmonton through partner agencies. Direct peer with comparable scale, warehouse logistics, hamper distribution, and signature fundraising events.
• Ottawa Food Bank: Eastern Ontario food bank acquiring and distributing food through ~140 member agencies. Direct peer with similar centralized distribution model, corporate partnerships, and annual fundraising events.
• Daily Bread Food Bank: Toronto-based food bank distributing food through a network of member agencies and member food banks. Most direct analogue to Harvest Manitoba: a regional food-distribution hub serving as the central warehouse for a city's food bank network, with similar programs (hampers, school nutrition, member-agency model).
• Banques alimentaires du Québec: Provincial association coordinating Quebec's Moisson-affiliated food banks (Moisson Montréal, Moisson Québec, etc.). Direct equivalent to Harvest Manitoba's role as the centralized food distribution hub for an entire province.
• Calgary Food Bank: Major Western Canadian food bank serving Calgary and surrounding area via a centralized warehouse and agency network. Direct regional peer with similar warehouse-based food distribution model, hamper programs, and corporate fundraising events.
• Greater Vancouver Food Bank: British Columbia's largest food bank, distributing via a network of member agencies across Metro Vancouver. Direct peer with comparable hub-and-spoke distribution model and hamper programs.

Regional players

• Regina Food Bank: Saskatchewan food bank serving Regina and southern Saskatchewan. Comparable provincial-scale food bank model with similar programs (hampers, school nutrition, agency distribution), though smaller in scale than Harvest Manitoba.

Broad incumbents

• Food Banks Canada: National charitable association supporting the Canadian food bank network, including Harvest Manitoba. Provides Link2Feed software, national coordination, research, and advocacy. Comparable as the umbrella body that Harvest operates within rather than competes with directly.

Emerging players

• Second Harvest: Canada's largest food rescue organization focused on surplus food recovery and redistribution to nonprofits. Partial overlap with Harvest Manitoba's planned Manitoba Food Transformation Centre mission (flash-freezing and processing surplus food); an adjacent rather than directly competing peer in food recovery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/HarvestManitoba
• Instagraminstagram.com/harvestmanitoba

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Harvest Manitoba