Banco Alimentar Contra a Fome

What Banco Alimentar Contra a Fome does

Banco Alimentar Contra a Fome is a Portuguese non-profit organization founded in 1991 that operates as a federation of 21 regional food banks coordinating the collection and redistribution of surplus food to vulnerable populations. The organization fights food waste by rescuing surplus products from agricultural producers, food industry companies, and EU assistance programs, and redistributing them through over 2,500 certified Social Solidarity Institutions (IPSS) to approximately 380,000 people with proven economic hardship. Core operations include two annual supermarket collection campaigns (May and November) mobilizing 40,000+ volunteers across 2,000+ retail locations, daily surplus recovery from food producers, and complementary programs including the Papel por Alimentos paper-recycling initiative, the Ajuda Vale voucher program, and the Rede de Emergência Solidária emergency response network.

The organization's infrastructure comprises warehouse and distribution facilities in Lisbon (headquarters), Porto, Setúbal, Terceira, and across all mainland districts plus the Madeira and Azores archipelagos, with logistics support from partners including Grupo Sousa/Logislink for island transport. Annual throughput reached 25,759 tonnes of food in 2024, valued at approximately €39.4 million, distributed at a rate of 103 tonnes per working day. The organization is a member of the European Federation of Food Banks (FEBA), which supports 12.8 million beneficiaries across 30 countries, and holds NP EN ISO 9001:2015 certification for food handling and volunteer management. Governance is led by President Isabel Jonet, with the federation operating without dependence on the state, the church, or any single private entity.

The business model is entirely donation-funded: operating costs are covered through material donations, third-party assumption of expenses, IRS tax consignment (1% income tax designation), member dues, and charitable contributions. The organization explicitly avoids purchasing food to maintain donor credibility and focus on food waste reduction. Distribution channels are diversified across supermarket campaigns, online donations, voucher programs, and direct EU program flows, with no commercial pricing applied to either food collection or beneficiary receipt.

Name

Banco Alimentar Contra a Fome

Legal name

Banco Alimentar Contra a Fome

Website

https://bancoalimentar.pt

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Banco Alimentar Contra a Fome is a Portuguese non-profit federation of 21 regional food banks founded in 1991, collecting and redistributing surplus food through 2,500+ partner institutions to approximately 380,000 vulnerable people annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Food Bank Services

NAICS

Community Food Services (62421)

akta.pro primary industry

Food Assistance & Food Banks (BPAGAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cash & Voucher Assistance (CVA) and Emergency Livelihood Support (BPAGAAAJ), Food Assistance & Safety Nets (In-Kind, Vouchers, Cash Transfers) (BPADAJAA)

Keywords

• Food bank services
• Food rescue redistribution
• Volunteer mobilization
• Emergency food relief
• Food waste reduction

Headquarters

HQ city

LISBOA, LISBOA

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charity: Banco Alimentar operates entirely on donated resources. Food donations come from agricultural surpluses, food industry companies, EU programs, and individual donors during collection campaigns. Operating expenses are covered through material and equipment donations, third-party assumption of operational costs, charitable contributions and subsidies, and member dues. The organization explicitly avoids purchasing food products to maintain credibility with donors and focus on food waste reduction rather than food purchasing.
2. IRS Tax Consignment: Portuguese taxpayers can designate 1% of their IRS (income tax) to the organization. NIF 502 671 858 for Lisbon regional bank, enabling government transfer of funds at no cost to the donor.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Banco Alimentar Contra a Fome is a private non-profit federation of 21 regional food banks across Portugal that rescues surplus food from agricultural production, food industry companies, and EU programmes, and redistributes it free of charge through a network of over 2,500 Social Solidarity Institutions (IPSS) to approximately 380,000 people facing economic hardship. Core operations include twice-yearly public food collection campaigns in supermarkets, continuous daily surplus recovery, an emergency food response network, paper-recycling-for-food campaigns, voucher-based donations at retail checkouts, and an online donation portal.

Product overview

Banco Alimentar Contra a Fome operates as a national network of 21 regional food banks across Portugal, functioning as a unified food rescue and redistribution system rather than a technology platform. The core offering is the twice-yearly Campanha de Recolha de Alimentos (food collection campaigns) held in approximately 2,000 supermarkets, complemented by ongoing daily food recovery from agricultural producers, food companies, and distribution networks. Key products include the Rede de Emergência Alimentar (emergency food network), the environmental Campanha Papel por Alimentos (paper-for-food program), the Campanha Ajuda Vale (gift voucher system), and the online Alimente esta Ideia donation portal. The organization also participates in the POAPMC EU aid program. Food products are sourced through EU programs, company donations, and public campaigns, then sorted, stored, and redistributed through over 2,500 IPSS (social solidarity institutions) to approximately 380,000 beneficiaries annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Campanha Papel por Alimentos: An environmental and solidarity campaign where collected paper is converted into basic food products for distribution to those in need.
• Rede de Emergência Solidária
• alimentestaideia.pt

Products and services

• Campanha de Recolha de Alimentos (Food Collection Campaign) Semi-annual supermarket food collection campaigns mobilizing approximately 40,000 volunteers across 2,000+ retail locations in Portugal to collect food donations from shoppers for redistribution through the food bank network. The campaigns serve as the primary public-facing fundraising mechanism and food acquisition channel.
• Campanha Papel por Alimentos (Paper for Food Campaign) Environmental-solidarity initiative in which donated paper and cardboard are sold to certified waste operators, with proceeds converted into basic food products distributed to vulnerable populations through the IPSS network. The campaign combines waste reduction with food aid.
• Rede de Emergência Solidária (Solidarity Emergency Network) Emergency food response network that provides immediate food assistance to people affected by crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters like Storm Kristin, coordinating food and essential aid delivery to social institutions in affected regions.
• POAPMC Distribution Programme EU-funded distribution programme for supporting the most deprived persons, involving coordinated distribution of food parcels through partner social institutions across Portuguese territories including São Miguel (Azores) and Madeira.
• Alimente esta Ideia Online Donation Platform Digital giving platform (alimentestaideia.pt) enabling online food donations year-round for donors unable to participate in physical campaigns, including those residing outside Portugal. Donations are processed and distributed through the same institutional IPSS network.
• Ajuda Vale (Help Voucher) Programme Point-of-sale voucher programme available at supermarket checkout counters, allowing shoppers to add pre-selected basic food items (milk, olive oil, rice, tuna, sausages, oil, beans) to their purchase, which are then delivered by retailers to food banks for distribution.

Quantifiable outcome

• 25,759 tonnes of food distributed annually with estimated value of 39.4 million euros
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Grupo Sousa / LogislinkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 July 2018Partnership for transport support to the Autonomous Region of Madeira. Grupo Sousa operates maritime transport, road transport, and logistics. They ensure transport of food containers donated by mainland companies and distributed by the Portuguese Federation, including transport to Porto Santo island and return transport of collected paper to Lisbon for the Papel por Alimentos campaign.
• European Federation of Food Banks (FEBA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFEBA coordinates the European network of food banks operating in 30 countries, helping 12.8 million people. The Portuguese Federation is a member and represents Portuguese food banks internationally. The federation coordinates national food distribution, provides information and material resources, and manages EU food program allocations.
• EU Agricultural Surplus ProgramsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Union food assistance programs that provide surplus agricultural products for distribution to those in need. The food banks serve as distribution network for these EU programs including POAPMC (Programa Operacional de Apoio às Pessoas Mais Carenciadas).
• Retail Chains (Supermarkets)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupermarket chains host bi-annual collection campaigns, provide shelf space for volunteers at entrances, and participate in the Ajuda Vale voucher program. Over 2,000 commercial surfaces participate in collection campaigns.
• Agricultural and Food Industry CompaniesmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFood industry companies donate surplus production and agricultural surpluses that would otherwise be destroyed. Companies benefit from tax deductions and environmental responsibility.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• The Global FoodBanking Network (GFN): Global non-profit that supports food bank development in countries without national food bank networks. Comparable mission of food rescue and redistribution to vulnerable populations, but operates as an enabling/incubating network rather than a national federation.
• Feeding America: Largest US hunger-relief organization, a network of 200+ food banks serving 40+ million people annually through partner charities. Closest analog at scale: same model of surplus food collection, federated regional food bank structure, and partner-charity redistribution.
• European Federation of Food Banks (FEBA): FEBA is the umbrella federation of which Banco Alimentar's Portuguese Federation (FPBA) is a member, coordinating 30 national food bank networks across Europe serving 12.2 million beneficiaries. Directly comparable mission, donor model, and operational structure at the European level.

Regional players

• Federação Portuguesa para o Voluntariado / ENTRAJUDA: Portuguese volunteer intermediation and social support network that links donors, volunteers, and social solidarity institutions (IPSS). Comparable Portuguese non-profit ecosystem player listed as a strategic partner on Banco Alimentar's website; complementary rather than competing mission.
• Cáritas Portuguesa: Portuguese Catholic charity operating social support programs including food aid through parish networks and shelters. Comparable Portuguese non-profit addressing food insecurity among vulnerable populations; broader social welfare scope than Banco Alimentar's pure food rescue focus.
• Banco de Bens Doados: Portuguese donated-goods bank that redistributes non-food items (clothing, equipment, household goods) from companies to IPSS. Adjacent Portuguese non-profit in the same federation ecosystem and partner list; complementary mission of corporate surplus redistribution to social institutions.

Direct peers

• Fédération Française des Banques Alimentaires (FFBA): French national federation of 79 food banks collecting and redistributing food to people in need through charity partners. Same FEBA-affiliated federation structure, supermarket collection campaigns, and IPSS-equivalent institutional distribution model.
• Federación Española de Bancos de Alimentos (FESBAL): FESBAL is the Spanish national federation of food banks that operates the same twice-yearly supermarket collection campaign model, distributing surplus food to vulnerable populations through partner charities. Closest geographic and operational peer; same model of regional food banks coordinating supermarket-based collection and IPSS-style institutional distribution.
• Trussell Trust: UK network of food banks operating emergency food parcels through partner organizations. Similar model of volunteer-driven food redistribution to people in hardship; more focused on emergency parcels than long-term food rescue but operates on a comparable federation and donation-driven basis.
• Fondazione Banco Alimentare (Italy): Italian food bank foundation running the identical Giornata Nazionale della Colletta Alimentare model across 21 regional food banks, redistributing surplus food through charity partners. Same founder lineage (FEBA), same twice-yearly supermarket collection model, same volunteer-driven federated structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/banco-alimentar-contra-a-fome

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries21 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Banco Alimentar Contra a Fome