Nuevo Leon Expands Food Bank Capacity Through Capital Comun

The Zero Hunger Nuevo Leon strategy got eight new vehicles for food distribution, marking the first phase of a three-stage investment aimed at expanding the capacity of Cáritas de Monterrey’s Food Bank by 250%.

The launch event was led by Martha Herrera, Minister of Equality and Inclusion, James Colyer, President, Cáritas de Monterrey board, Eduardo Garza, Chair, Capital Comun, and Enrique Gómez, President, National Network of Food Banks and board member of the Monterrey Food Bank. The initiative represents a record investment of over MX$120 million (US$5.9 million) by Capital para el Bien Comun, A.C. The objective is to increase storage and distribution of fruits and vegetables from 15t to 55t per day. 

The investment will enable the recovery of up to 17,000t of food and help prevent 24,000t of CO₂ emissions. The program aims to address food insecurity for the remaining 230,000 people in need while also targeting issues such as malnutrition and anemia across different age groups. “As of today, we are supporting 337,000 people through this strategy. Our goal is to become the first state in Mexico to eradicate extreme poverty and food insecurity,” said Herrera.

In addition to environmental and social goals, the strategy also aims to improve governance by strengthening stakeholder participation in the Zero Hunger initiative. Four main action lines have been defined, focusing on expanding distribution centers, increasing transportation capacity, and engaging private sector partners to scale food donation efforts. “This is the beginning of our goal to grow capacity by 250%. Our joint commitment with the state is to raise the white flag by the end of this administration,” stated Gómez.  

Capital Comun, a private-sector initiative in Nuevo Leon, operates through a state trust funded by 1% of the state’s payroll tax. It supports long-term, high-impact social projects through a collaborative governance model involving multiple sectors. The broader goal of the organization is to address systemic challenges through strategic investment, leadership, and coordinated action across sectors.