For many years, Kerry Group has been a valued KANDU partner, providing consistent support to help propel our mission forward.  From supporting the annual Grapes & Hops fundraiser, to sponsoring and providing the “secret ingredient” for the grilling competition during the bygone Party at the Pitts event, and instituting the popular street chef competition at last year’s Dragons on the Rock charity event, Kerry’s generosity increases KANDU’s ability to elevate and enrich the lives of clients and the surrounding community.

Kerry is a company rich in heritage and resources, celebrating the 50^th anniversary this year of its founding as a dairy co-op in Ireland in 1972. Over the past five decades, Kerry became a global leader by focusing on changing lifestyles, the globalization of food tastes, and ever-evolving consumer needs in food and beverage. Kerry’s relationship with KANDU has only strengthened over the years, with several Kerry Group employees serving on KANDU’s endowment board and board of directors.

As a non-profit, many of KANDU’s successful fundraising events rely on local businesses and community organizations pitching in to make the day a success. Kerry has consistently gone above and beyond, by not only supporting, but actively participating in and planning event details that will draw a crowd, like the street chef competition at Dragons on the Rock. Last year’s inaugural challenge featured local restaurants and food truck chefs competing to make the best dish using Kerry ingredients. Seven competed in the event and three Kerry judges ultimately named Rock City Roasters the grand champion for their skirt steak tacos.

Every day, millions of people throughout the world consume foods and beverages containing Kerry’s taste and nutrition solutions. Kerry’s North America headquarters is in Beloit, Wis. and more than 700 employees work on the company’s campus. Of its philanthropy, the company says, “Kerry has a proud record of community engagement and support. Since its foundation, we have contributed significant time and resources to initiatives and charitable causes in the regions where we operate and the philosophy of positive engagement with local communities continues to be a core value of the organization.”

Kerry Group’s journey from modest beginnings to dynamic growth has cemented them as a global leader in the food and beverage industry.  Their commitment to improving the health and nutrition of people around the world extends beyond Kerry’s primary consumer base and into the communities they serve, expanding the definition of the word nourishment far beyond the dinner table.