Charlotte, N.C. (April 3, 2018) – The world’s largest foodservice company, Compass Group, has designated April 27th as Stop Food Waste Day™ an international day of action to fight food waste. Chefs across the world will lead live cooking demonstrations to build awareness of the critical food waste problem and inspire change.
In 2017, Compass Group North America committed to reduce food waste 25 percent by the year 2020 as part of its mission to create a positive impact for people, the planet, and the food system. Compass is already reporting an 11 percent decrease in food waste and is on-track to meet the three-year goal. Investments in training, digital platforms, and innovative systems have uncovered opportunities to reduce waste throughout the lifecycle of food – from harvesting and producing to purchasing and portioning.
“Food waste reduction is a priority we are driving every day. Serving 9.8 million meals daily in North America alone, the reach of our influence is huge– both inside our cafes and through our client and customer connections. Together we can create real and meaningful change,” says Amy Keister, vice president of sustainability and consumer engagement, Compass Group.
Approximately 40 percent of food produced in the United States is never eaten. Compass Group’s network of strategic partnerships with organizations such as ReFED, Eatable, Save the Food, and Food Tank, and influencers such as celebrity chef Tom Colicchio, help mobilize the movement to drive results. Today, more than 250,000 pounds of food are donated each year to local food banks from cafes within the Compass Group family of companies in North America. Chefs are trained to purchase Imperfectly Delicious Produce (IDP) and have rescued four million pounds of “aesthetically imperfect” food to date. Compass Group chefs also utilize online tools for tracking waste, create smart menus to maximize ingredients and provide resources to help customers reduce waste in their home kitchens. Worldwide, Compass Group’s top 30 countries have commitments to activate food waste reduction programs.
“As leaders, it is critical to influence positive change and offer meaningful solutions. But we can’t do it alone. Throughout the year, we are partnering with innovative people, organizations, and our clients by sharing progressive strategies and best practices to deliver results and make a significant impact,” explains Chief Operating Officer Rick Post, Compass Group.
Take Action
Educate your audience on food waste and its impact. Events will be hosted at hundreds of Compass cafés in local hospitals, schools, arenas, corporations, museums, and senior living communities. To schedule interviews, cooking demonstrations, or to request low-waste recipes, contact Laura Moore, senior communications manager, Envision Group, Compass Group.
About Compass Group
Based in Charlotte, NC, Compass Group North America is the leading foodservice and support services company with more than 250,000 associates and $17 billion in revenues in 2017. With more than 550,000 associates worldwide, its parent company, UK-based Compass Group PLC, has been named in the Forbes Global 2000 – World’s Best Employer list for 2017. Compass Group PLC had revenues of £22.9 billion ($29 billion USD) in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2017.
Contacts:
Laura Moore, [email protected], (704) 351-8660
Senior Communications Manager, Envision Group, Compass Group
Jessica Rainbolt, [email protected], (860) 995-7351
Communications Specialist, Envision Group, Compass Group
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