Food insecurity is a growing issue in the United States, especially due to the economic effects of the Coronavirus pandemic. In partnership with the non-profit Bigger Table, Imbibe donated product development services to create a low sugar, high protein meal replacement mix that will be distributed to individuals in need throughout the Chicagoland area. The delicious and nutritious mix is made from ingredients donated by local food and beverage companies.

More than a quarter of a million packets of the meal replacement were manufactured the first week of August and will be distributed to six different food banks and pantries in the Chicagoland area the week of Aug. 10, including Northern Illinois Food Bank, Greater Chicago Food Depository, Beyond Hunger, Common Pantry, Meals on Wheels Chicago, and Chicago CRED.

“We are sensitive to the challenges individuals are facing in wake of the pandemic and saw an opportunity to make an impact on our community by providing healthy beverages that deliver much-needed nourishment,” explained Dratt. “Through our partnership with Bigger Table, we will continue innovating and providing delicious, nutritious products that benefit under-served communities in a sustainable way.”

Hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of internal resources and in-kind ingredients were donated by ADM, Bader Rutter, Blueshoon, Coyle Print Group, ConnectFood, Dairy Farmers of America, Edlong, FONA International, Imbibe, Lithotype Co., Olam Cocoa, Proven Partners Group and Sweetener Supply.

Bigger Table is led by ten Chicago-area food and beverage industry members, including Imbibe’s Chief Commercial Officer, Andy Dratt. Dratt has been a board member of the Chicagoland Food and Beverage Network since its inception three years ago and is now chairman of the board for Bigger Table.

For more information about Imbibe’s involvement in the Bigger Table hot cocoa donation, contact Holly McHugh at 847.324.4411, or email hmchugh@imbibeinc.com.

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Imbibe is a beverage development company focused on the formulation, customization and commercialization of cutting-edge beverage products. We act as a bolt-on R&D function for companies that don’t have one or an extension of the R&D team for those who do. Through this activity, we design custom ingredient systems that drive differentiation for products in all beverage categories.