EDMONTON’S FOOD BANK

What EDMONTON’S FOOD BANK does

Edmonton's Food Bank, operating under the legal entity Edmonton Gleaners Association (charitable registration 129185310 RR0001), is a registered charity founded in 1981 and recognized as Canada's first food bank. The organization functions as a central food warehouse and redistribution center, distributing food hampers to more than 43,000 individuals monthly and supplying over 250 partner agencies — including Hope Mission, Bissell Centre, Mustard Seed, Edmonton Convention Centre, the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation, and Metis Child & Family Services — that together provide 500,000+ meals and snacks per year. Operations are run from three Edmonton facilities on 120 Street (main warehouse, the ANNEX community depot opened 2014, and the NISO programming facility opened June 21, 2023) supported by a fleet of 19 mostly-refrigerated vehicles and weekly pickup routes to 110 retail food donor locations.

The core product set comprises the Food Hamper Program (family sizes of 3, 4, and 5-7), the Baby Bundle for infants, the Community Meal Program, the Beyond Food program (job-readiness, resume building, financial literacy, and social-service navigation), Food Rescue Operations, the Plant/Grow/Share a Row community gardening initiative, the Community Kitchen Program, and the Food Bank FRESH Alberta provincial partnership. There is no proprietary technology; the digital stack is third-party (CanadaHelps for donations, BetterImpact for volunteer management). The organization has no app, no patents or trademarks, and no AI/ML capability.

The business model is donation-funded. Revenue streams include monetary donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations; food donations (in-kind rescued food from 110 retail locations plus consumer drop-offs at grocery stores and fire stations); vehicle donations via Donate a Car Canada and Homeless Cars; and bottle/container donations via SkipTheDepot. The organization purchases approximately $3.5M of food annually to maintain nutritional and cultural appropriateness. All services are free to recipients; per Charity Intelligence, 91 cents of every donated dollar goes directly to people in need. The organization does not receive ongoing government funding for food purchases or operations, leaving it dependent on community donations, corporate sponsors (EPCOR, Servus Credit Union, Sobeys, Enbridge, Capital Power, RBC Foundation, among others), and foundation grants.

Name

EDMONTON’S FOOD BANK

Legal name

Edmonton Gleaners Association

Website

https://edmontonsfoodbank.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Edmonton's Food Bank, established in 1981 as Canada's first food bank, is a registered charity that distributes food hampers to 43,000+ Edmontonians monthly and supplies 250+ partner agencies, funded entirely by donations, corporate sponsorships, and food-rescue operations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Food Bank and Hunger Relief Services

NAICS

Community Food Services (62421)

akta.pro primary industry

Food Assistance & Food Banks (BPAGAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Food Assistance & Nutrition Relief (Emergency Feeding) (BPAGAAAD)

Keywords

• Food bank services
• Emergency food assistance
• Food rescue operations
• Community hunger relief
• Charitable food distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Edmonton

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Monetary Donations: The primary revenue stream comes from monetary donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. These donations cover operating costs and food purchases. Edmonton Food Bank purchases $3.5M worth of food annually to ensure hampers stay nutritionally balanced and culturally appropriate.
2. Food Donations: Food donations from individuals at drop-off locations, grocery stores, and fire stations, as well as rescued food from retail partners and the food industry. In 2023, over 60% of distributed food was rescued food totaling over 3.6 million kilograms.
3. Vehicle Donations: Vehicle donations through partners Donate a Car Canada and Homeless Cars. These partners facilitate pickup, sale, and donation of proceeds to the food bank with tax receipts issued.
4. Bottle/Container Donations: Partnership with SkipTheDepot allows donors to schedule bottle pickup services with proceeds going to Edmonton's Food Bank.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Edmonton's Food Bank is a registered charity that collects, purchases, and redistributes food to individuals and families experiencing food insecurity in Edmonton. It provides monthly food hampers to more than 43,000 people, supports over 250 partner agencies with food supplies, rescues surplus food from retail and food industry donors, and runs the Beyond Food program offering job readiness training and social service connections. The organization also funds culturally appropriate food options, infant nutrition support, and community kitchen programming.

Product overview

Edmonton's Food Bank operates as a central food warehouse and redistribution center offering multiple interconnected programs. The core offerings include a Food Hamper Program (available in family sizes 3, 4, and 5-7, plus Baby Bundle), the Beyond Food Program for job readiness and social services, and Food Rescue Operations. Supporting programs include Plant, Grow, Share a Row (gardening donations), Community Kitchen Program, Food Bank FRESH Alberta (fresh food procurement), and ancillary donation services for vehicles and bottle deposits. The organization distributes over 43,000 food hampers monthly and provides food to over 250 partner agencies including shelters and soup kitchens.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Food Hamper Program
• Baby Bundle
• Community Meal Program
• Beyond Food Program
• Food Rescue Operations
• Plant, Grow, Share a Row Program
• Community Kitchen Program
• Food Bank FRESH Alberta
• Donate a Car Program
• Skip the Depot Bottle Drive
• Vegetarian & Vegan Food Purchase Fund

Quantifiable outcome

• 43,000+ people receive food hampers monthly
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

32 partnerships are on record, tiered major and minor.

• EPCORmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor displayed on supporter logos section of website. EPCOR also ran matching donation campaigns during holidays.
• Servus Credit UnionmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor and presenting sponsor for Servus Community Sundays at Snow Valley and Heritage Festival. $5 from every Snow Valley ticket supports local charities including Edmonton Food Bank.
• SobeysmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor whose logo appears on supporter section of website.
• Edmonton Oilers Community FoundationmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-standing partner donating prepared food from Rogers Place through Second Helping program. Has donated over 38,101 kg of food and $100,000 worth of food. Also supported purchase of reefer trucks.
• Edmonton Convention CentremajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSecond Helping food recovery program partner since 2009. Donates prepared but not plated food from banquet facilities. In 2020, donated over 2,200 kg of leftover food. Also provided meals to Tipinawâw shelter during COVID-19.
• EnbridgemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor and presenting sponsor for RISE & SERVE events. Also supports Guru Nanak Dev Ji Day radio-a-thon.
• Capital PowermajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor presenting Magical Christmas Music Gala event.
• PCL ConstructionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor whose logo appears on supporter section.
• Tim Horton'sminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor whose logo appears on supporter section.
• CanadaHelpsmajorTechnology or IntegrationOnline donation partner facilitating credit card donations. Implemented PCI DSS compliant payment pop-up window. Donors can give at canadahelps.org/en/dn/37994.
• Donate a Car CanadaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVehicle donation partner accepting car donations on behalf of Edmonton Food Bank. Facilitates pickup and sale, issues tax receipts.
• Homeless CarsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVehicle donation partner offering free contactless pickup. Issues charitable tax receipts. 100% of funds stay in Canada in the community donated.
• SkipTheDepotminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBottle pickup service partner allowing donors to schedule bottle depot pickups with proceeds going to Edmonton Food Bank.
• Islamic Family & Social Services Association (IFSSA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates to provide culturally and dietary appropriate food (halal chicken) for Muslim clients.
• Hope MissionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerShelter partner receiving food supplies for meal programs serving homeless and vulnerable populations.
• Bissell CentremajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial services agency partner receiving food donations and collaborating on community initiatives including COVID-19 response.
• Food Banks CanadamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization partnered on Food Bank FRESH Alberta pilot project to secure fresh nutritious food. Also provides best practices and food safety guidelines.
• Alberta Health ServicesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on food quality and safety standards for rescued food distribution ensuring compliance with health regulations.
• SuncorminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate volunteer partner participating in potato harvest at Fort Edmonton Park.
• HIBCO ConstructionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConstruction company founded by Barzagar brothers who were former food bank clients. Donated plexiglass dividers during COVID-19.
• Bent Arrow Traditional Healing SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Tipinawâw 24/7 accommodation initiative during COVID-19 providing services to vulnerable Edmontonians.
• Salvation ArmyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgency partner providing additional support services including Pathway of Hope program, clothing vouchers, and housing assistance for food bank clients.
• Metis Child & Family ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgency partner receiving food supplies for their programs serving Metis families.
• Operation Friendship Seniors SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerServes seniors 55+ through drop-in centre providing nutritious meals using food bank supplies.
• Edmonton ElksminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPurolator Tackle Hunger initiative partner organizing food donations at football games.
• GiveAMask.caminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPPE partnership donating reusable and disposable masks during COVID-19. Coupon code Edmonton10 provides 10% off with donations going to Food Bank.
• Sponsor EnergyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUtility provider donating $50 to Edmonton Food Bank for each customer who switches using promo code EDMONTONFOOD17.
• Chop Steakhouse & BarminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRestaurant partner raising funds through Community Bread initiative. Has donated over $20,000 to date.
• Woodwork RestaurantminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEdmonton restaurant donating $3 from each Brussels Sprouts Elote order to Food Bank.
• Little Wolf RestaurantminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMonthly three-course vegan dinners with $5 from each ticket going to Food Bank. Has raised over $1,200.
• Domino's PizzaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEdmonton locations collecting and donating proceeds from special pizza deals. Donated $46,879 in 2025.
• Leftovers FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome Harvest program helping homeowners pick fruit from trees for food bank donation.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Second Harvest: Canada's largest food rescue organization with a model closely overlapping Edmonton's rescued-food operations. Comparable focus on diverting surplus food from retail/foodservice to social service agencies.
• Daily Bread Food Bank: Toronto's largest food bank with a comparable focus on hamper distribution to partner agencies, rescued food, and donor-funded operations. Operates a similar scale and structure to Edmonton's Food Bank within a major Canadian city.
• Greater Vancouver Food Bank: Large urban Canadian food bank operating a comparable hamper + agency partner + food rescue model. Serves a similar metro-scale population with a similar mix of monetary and food donation revenue streams.
• Calgary Food Bank: Alberta's other major urban food bank and a co-partner on the Food Bank FRESH Alberta pilot. Operates a near-identical model of hamper distribution, agency partner network, food rescue, and corporate fundraising in a comparable metropolitan market.
• Ottawa Food Bank: Major urban Canadian food bank serving the Ottawa region with a similar hamper + community programs + food rescue structure. Comparable revenue model reliant on donations, corporate sponsorships, and rescued food.
• Leftovers Foundation: Calgary-based food rescue non-profit and direct partner of Edmonton's Food Bank via the Home Harvest program. Operates an overlapping food-rescue and gleaning model in Alberta.
• Moisson Montreal: Quebec's largest food bank with a comparable agency-distribution and food-rescue model serving a major Canadian metro. Provides a useful peer benchmark for scale and partner-network management.

Broad incumbents

• Food Banks Canada: National umbrella organization for Canadian food banks and a direct strategic partner on the Food Bank FRESH Alberta initiative. Provides shared services, advocacy, and food-safety guidelines across the Canadian food bank network including Edmonton.
• Food Banks Alberta: Provincial association representing Alberta's regional food banks, including Edmonton. Co-partner on Food Bank FRESH Alberta; provides provincial advocacy and shared procurement in the same province.
• Feed Ontario: Provincial association of Ontario food banks. Provides member services, advocacy, and fresh-food procurement at scale, structurally analogous to Food Banks Alberta's role for Edmonton.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/yegfoodbank
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCuhyrtakki-qca75Ypv3hXQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/Yegfoodbank
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/yegfoodbank

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 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 EDMONTON’S FOOD BANK