BALTIMORE, Dec. 01, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Smithfield's Helping Hungry Homes campaign partnered with Shoppers® this morning to provide more than 100,000 servings of protein to Maryland Food Bank just in time for the holiday season. This considerable donation is part of Smithfield's 300th Helping Hungry Homes donation milestone tour, during which the company is donating more than one million servings to 20 food banks across the country through the end of the year. These 20 donations are in addition to the 42 large-scale protein donations Smithfield has made across the United States in 2016.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0d29617d-93bb-4297-9e8d-59057cfe98d8

Representatives from Smithfield and Shoppers presented the donation of 25,000 pounds of protein, equivalent to 100,000 servings, to the food bank during an event at which speakers discussed the importance of donations like this in Maryland, where one in eight individuals struggle with hunger.

Throughout the end of the year, Smithfield is traveling from coast-to-coast to food banks in Florence, S.C., Charleston, S.C., Sacramento, Calif., Kansas City, Kan., Hampton, Va., Virginia Beach, Va., Bethel Heights, Ark., Baltimore, Md., Tampa, Fla, and beyond. Smithfield is continuing its long history of partnering with local retailers with a history of philanthropy to make these donations and raise awareness of hunger in these areas.

"High quality protein donations are often difficult to come by, which is why this gift from Smithfield and Shoppers is so valuable to us," said Mathew Whelan, interim CEO & president of the Maryland Food Bank. "The holiday season is a particularly difficult time of year for those in need, but with this donation of 25,000 pounds of protein, we hope to make it brighter for thousands of hungry Marylanders."

"At Shoppers Food, involvement in our local communities and the act of giving back has a significant value," said Bob Gleeson, president of Shoppers. "This donation is a great opportunity for us to offer some help in the communities we serve, particularly our neighbors in need, and we thank both Smithfield and the Maryland Food Bank for the opportunity to work with them on such a worthy cause."

"Smithfield is thrilled to join Shoppers during our 300th milestone tour to present this donation to Maryland Food Bank during the holiday season," said Dennis Pittman, senior director of hunger relief for Smithfield Foods. "This is a time to reflect and be thankful for the abundance we enjoy and give back to those who may not know the source of their next meal. Through our Helping Hungry Homes tour, we're proud to continue to help more than 100 food banks nationwide. We encourage others to get involved and volunteer time, funds, or food to help their local food bank."

As part of its ongoing Helping Hungry Homes program, Smithfield has committed to donate more than eight million servings of protein to food banks nationwide in 2016 to help families and individuals suffering from hunger. To date, the program has provided more than 46 million servings of protein to food banks across America.

About Smithfield
A leading provider of high-quality pork products, Smithfield was founded in 1936 in Smithfield, Virginia, establishing the town as the "Ham Capital of the World." From hand-trimmed bacon and slow-smoked holiday hams to marinated tenderloins, Smithfield brings artistry, authenticity and a commitment to heritage, flavor, and handcrafted excellence to everything it produces. With a vast product portfolio including smoked meats, hams, bacon, sausage, ribs, and a wide variety of fresh pork cuts, the company services retail, foodservice, and deli channels across the United States and 30 countries abroad. All of Smithfield's products meet the highest quality and safety standards in the industry. To learn more about how Flavor Hails from Smithfield, please visit www.Smithfield.com, www.Twitter.com/SmithfieldBrand, and www.Facebook.com/CookingWithSmithfield. Smithfield is a brand of Smithfield Foods.

About Smithfield Foods
Smithfield Foods is a $14 billion global food company and the world's largest pork processor and hog producer. In the United States, the company is also the leader in numerous packaged meats categories with popular brands including Smithfield®, Eckrich®, Nathan's Famous®, Farmland®, Armour®, John Morrell®, Cook's®, Kretschmar®, Gwaltney®, Curly's®, Margherita®, Carando®, Healthy Ones®, Krakus®, Morliny®, and Berlinki®. Smithfield Foods is committed to providing good food in a responsible way and maintains robust animal care, community involvement, employee safety, environmental and food safety and quality programs. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com.

About Shoppers
Shoppers Food & Pharmacy, which is member of Supervalu's corporate stores family, operates more than 50 full-service supermarkets in Baltimore, northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. Shoppers targets price-conscious consumers offering over 30,000 everyday low prices and a commitment to save up to 15 percent or more every day with no card needed.  For more information, please visit www.shoppersfood.com.

About the Maryland Food Bank
The Maryland Food Bank is a nonprofit hunger-relief organization, leading the movement to end hunger throughout Maryland. For more than 35 years, the Maryland Food Bank has partnered with communities across the state to distribute food to individuals and families in need. Through carefully-crafted programs, the food bank aims to meet the immediate needs of Marylanders while simultaneously working to find long term ways to reduce hunger statewide. Currently distributing more than 120,000 meals per day - over 44 million meals annually - the Maryland Food Bank will continue to expand its efforts until hunger ends. To learn more about the Maryland Food Bank, visit www.mdfoodbank.org.

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