Sodexo India works to reduce food waste, feeds hungry
June 17, 2019
In a joint effort to minimize food waste and eradicate hunger and malnutrition, Sodexo, the world leader in Quality of Life services, along with Stop Hunger has joined hands with Feeding India, an NGO which collects, checks, transports and donates food to people in need
Mumbai/Hyderabad, June 17, 2019 – In a joint effort to minimize food waste and eradicate hunger and malnutrition, Sodexo, the world leader in Quality of Life services, along with Stop Hunger has joined hands with Feeding India, an NGO which collects, checks, transports and donates food to people in need. In a symbolic inaugural ceremony, senior leaders from both organizations kicked off the first surplus food donation program at Sodexo India’s leading corporate site in Hyderabad, serving over 14,000 meals per day. The initiative is aligned with the company’s Better Tomorrow 2025 commitment, focusing on sustainability and making lives better for individuals, communities and the environment.
The 8-month pilot project entails Sodexo’s expert guidance on food handling, storage and transportation in addition to offering access to the surplus food generated on site, which Feeding India will then redistribute among the underserved in the nearby communities. Based on the success of the pilot, the program will be introduced at other client locations, in different cities, in due course of time.
“A major challenge for many developing countries, including ours is handling food waste. Being a world leader in food services, we are uniquely positioned to help. With a supply chain network of over 150,000 enterprises, 427,000 employees and 75 million consumers globally, there are many ways we can make a difference and revolutionize the way our industry deals with food waste. By partnering Feeding India and donating the surplus food generated on site, we are successfully turning India’s food waste problem into an opportunity – opportunity to serve the needy in the community around us by going beyond our own operations”, said Rishi Gour, Country President, Sodexo On-Site Services, India.
Further, with initiatives like WasteLESS Week and Servathon, Sodexo is continuously engaging and empowering its clients, consumers, and its employees to waste less and, ultimately, improve quality of life of individuals, while reducing environmental impact and creating social impact for communities.
“I am happy to announce that Sodexo, one of the largest food and facilities management service provider has taken a pivotal step to reduce food waste and help combat hunger by partnering Feeding India nationally”, stated Ankit Kawatra, Founder, Feeding India. “Feeding India is proud to start its first Magic Wheels food recovery van in Hyderabad that will be collecting surplus food from Sodexo’s partner office in Hyderabad. The food donated will be an incentive for the children from the nearby communities to attend school. Combining efforts with Sodexo, our intent is to connect and engage better with employees, community members and spread awareness on the issue of hunger and malnutrition. The pilot project in Hyderabad is the stepping tone to the long-term partnership aimed at having a national footprint”, he concluded.