MARCUS BONTEMPELLI CALLS ON AUSSIES TO HELP FAMILIES FACING WINTER HUNGER

Friday 17 July, 2026: With one in three Australian households currently facing food insecurity*, AFL star Marcus Bontempelli is calling on the nation to help put three million breakfasts on the table for families doing it tough this winter as part of Red Tractor, ALDI Australia and Foodbank's 'Buy One, Give One' campaign.

From today, every 1.6kg bag of Red Tractor oats purchased at ALDI Australia stores as part of a Special Buy, will see Red Tractor donate an equivalent 1.6kg bag of oats to Foodbank, helping support Aussie families facing food insecurity.

Creme Brulee and Savoury Garlic Oats on the menu at Arthur's Milkbar

Showing why he's a superstar on and off the field, Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli is leading from the front, with his Melbourne cafe, Arthur's Milkbar, also getting involved in the campaign, unveiling two special menu items for punters.

Arthur's Milkbar will be serving up Crème Brûlée Porridge and Savoury Garlic Oats from today until Sunday, 2 August, with every bowl of the special menu items purchased seeing an additional 1.6kg of oats being donated to Foodbank.

Commenting on the initiative, Bontempelli said: "Growing up, brekkie was a big deal in our house. It's where we made sure we started the day on the right foot as a family. When I think about Aussies who aren't able to do something as simple as have a bowl of oats for brekkie, it really hits home. That's why I'm getting behind this campaign, it makes it so simple to make a real difference for someone that needs it.

"If you're heading out to do the groceries over the next two weeks, make sure you head to ALDI and pick up a bag of Red Tractor oats. And if you're in Melbourne, pop into Arthur's. I've been trying to get Crème Brûlée on the menu for a while so you might spot me down there tucking into a bowl!"

Demand for Foodbank relief reaches record high

Buy One, Give One comes at a critical time for Australians in need. Recent Foodbank data reveals almost half of Australians (47 per cent) found it harder to put food on the table in June than in the month prior^.

Commentary

Red Tractor CEO, Andrew Loader, said, "Two years ago, we set out to help feed Australian families through the simple act of buying a bag of oats. Today, Buy One, Give One is in its third year, and the need has never been greater.

"Each bag of Red Tractor oats bought at ALDI is a direct way for Australians to help someone in their community doing it tough, and we couldn't be prouder to keep building on the impact we've made together."

Foodbank Australia CEO, Kylea Tink, said, "As Australia's largest food relief charity, our partnership with Red Tractor and Aldi is vital, not only in terms of helping us provide nutritious meals to those in need, but also as an enabler for us to raise awareness of the quiet astonishing need across the community.

"For many it can be tempting to assume food insecurity is an issue that affects those at the margins of our society. Yet our most recent annual Hunger Report showed 1 in 3 households in Australia are either unable to afford nutritious foods, or are skipping meals or entire days of eating. In one of the most successful economies in the world, this rate of food insecurity should be completely unacceptable - yet as of today it is systemic and endemic.

"Buy One, Give One allows Foodbank to move oats around the country and into the pantries of people in need in time for winter.

"We couldn't be more grateful to Red Tractor and ALDI for supporting Foodbank and Australian families, and we encourage oat lovers to head into ALDI and pick up their Red Tractor oats."

ALDI Australia Buying Director (Breakfast), Ben Jacobs, said ALDI was proud to continue supporting the Buy One, Give One initiative alongside Red Tractor and Foodbank.

"At ALDI, we understand that many Australians are doing it tough this winter, which is why we're focused on providing quality products at an ALDI Price for our customers," said Mr Jacobs.

"We're proud to continue partnering with Red Tractor and Foodbank on the Buy One, Give One campaign because it turns an everyday shop into practical support for families who need it. Breakfast is something many of us can take for granted, but for households facing food insecurity, a pantry staple like oats can help provide a nutritious start to the day. Through this initiative, ALDI customers can play a simple but meaningful role in helping Foodbank reach more Australians this winter."

For more information on how to support the "Buy One, Give One" initiative and help tackle food insecurity in Australia, please visit www.redtractorfoods.com.au.

Red Tractor's 1.6kg Oats ($5.99 RRP) will be available in ALDI Australia stores nationwide as a Special Buy from today, while stocks last.

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITOR

Foodbank Australia data
*2025 Foodbank Hunger Report
^The Foodbank Ipsos Issues Monitor Omnibus Study (June 2026)

Images
A library of images can be found here. 
 

Media contact

Lauren Hunt | lauren@zonnioshunt.com.au | 0423 541 802

Nick Zonnios | nick@zonnioshunt.com.au | 0421 663 442

About Red Tractor
Red Tractor is an Australian brand that prides itself on supporting farmers and families on the land, producing products that are both good for you and good for all involved. Red Tractor is part of the Openway Food Co. portfolio of brands.

About Foodbank Australia
Foodbank is Australia's largest food relief not-for-profit working with 2,966 frontline charities and 3,649 school breakfast programs to source the equivalent of 92 million meals a year for those experiencing food insecurity.

About ALDI Australia 

ALDI entered the Australian market in 2001 and now operates more than 600 stores nationally. ALDI is committed to providing high-quality products at Australia's lowest prices, helping customers achieve more value every time they shop.