Addressing hunger and food insecurity among Canadians

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Hunger and food insecurity are growing issues in Canada, and local Chick-fil-A Owner-Operators are committed to being a part of the solution.  


Food insecurity and food waste in Canada 

According to the latest data from Statistics Canada’s Canadian Income Survey, 8.7 million Canadians – including 2.1 million children – in the 10 provinces lived in food-insecure households in 2023. With close to 1 in 10 Canadians living in poverty, and food prices continuing to rise, this issue is top of mind for many Canadian residents and businesses alike.  

At the same time, Canadian non-profit Second Harvest reports that 58% of food produced for Canadians is lost or wasted every year and 32% of that food is edible and could be redirected. That equates to 11 million metric tonnes of quality surplus food that could help feed people in need.  

How local Chick-fil-A Owner-Operators help meet local needs 

Local Chick-fil-A^® restaurant Owner-Operators throughout Canada understand the severity of these issues and are taking action to make an impact throughout their neighbourhoods. In fact, 100% of Owner-Operators representing 16 Chick-fil-A restaurants across Canada engage in the Chick-fil-A Shared Table food donation program. Through this initiative, local Restaurants donate extrafood to Second Harvest, the largest food rescue organization in Canada. Surplus quality protein – like chicken filets, nuggets and eggs – as well as fresh produce, and more are picked up and distributed to local shelters and soup kitchens, which transform these ingredients to help feed those experiencing food insecurity.  

For Karleen Rhodes, the local restaurant Owner-Operator of Chick-fil-A  West Edmonton Mall in Alberta, reducing food waste in her Restaurant and helping the community are two key priorities for her business. So, the Chick-fil-A Shared Table program is a simple and impactful way to give back.  

Surplus food from her Restaurant goes to a local charitable organization in Edmonton that turns the donated food into meals for people in need – ensuring its feeding local community members instead of going to a landfill.  

“As food insecurity in Canada has grown, it’s important to me as a local business owner to be conscious about how I’m conducting business and giving back to those in need in my community,” Karleen explains. “The Chick-fil-A Shared Table program is genuine, caring way to support our neighbours – and that genuine care is really what makes
Chick-fil-A stand out in the quick-service restaurant industry.”  

The impact of the Chick-fil-A Shared Table program 

Here’s a look at the impact of Chick-fil-A Shared Table in Alberta, Ontario and beyond:

• 106,000+ meals created from surplus food donated from Chick-fil-A restaurants
• 100% of local Chick-fil-A Owner-Operators participating in Canada
• 16 Chick-fil-A restaurants providing regular to local community partners via Second Harvest

Chick-fil-A, Inc. recently announced that more than 30 million meals have been created in Canada and the U.S. through the Chick-fil-A Shared Table program since 2012. This effort helped the company achieve its 2025 corporate social responsibility to divert 25 million pounds of food waste from landfills one year ahead of schedule.

To learn more about the Chick-fil-A Shared Table program in Canada, visit chick-fil-a.ca/sharedtable.