The caring chef is once again bringing together the hospitality industry to take meaningful actions that mean this Mandela Day through the annual #67,000litres of this Mandela Day campaign.
In its sixth year, this national initiative invites professional kitchens, culinary schools, restaurants, hotels and food producers to gather to rescue food, cook nutritious soups and feed those who need it most. The goal for 2025 is to cook over 100,000 litres of soup on Mandela Day, feeding over 400,000 people, collecting R1 million and maintaining the chef in caring work for next year.
Since its founding in 2020, the campaign has cooked a total of 450,259 liters of soup (over 1.8 million cups) to South African communities. Over the past few years, there has been significant support from the chicken industry, with Quantum Foods (Nulaid), Astral, Rainbow and Country Bird Holdings (CBH) donating essential proteins to enhance the nutritional value of any service.
Verified supporters for 2025 include already well-known industry chefs and major cooking institutions such as Capsicum, HTA and International Hotel School. Marriott has also pledged its support through the Marriott Business Council's CSI program. The campaign also proudly welcomes the ongoing commitment of participating kitchens, including the HTA School of Culinary Art, The International Hotel School, and Community-based hubs, which serve meals all year round.
“#67,000litres is evidence that collective action works. The hospitality industry has the power to change lives, not just ingredients,” says Coo Pillay, president of SA chefs and founding director of chefs at Compassion. “Every kitchen involved, every supplier that donates, and every chef who lends skills makes a tangible difference to those who get hungry.”
The opportunities to participate are as follows:
Product sponsorship – Agricultural, gas, transport, or 20 liter bucket hospitality sponsorship – Cook soups in kitchen sponsorships at hotels, restaurants, kitchens, or catering facilities – Participating in Mandela Day Corporate Experiences Soups Bucket Kitchen – Staff cooking staff using Chefs Team Building Event: 1.5-HERSPONSITERSHIT PACKAGES: 1.5-HER (RESTIOND PACKAGES (RESTIOND PACKING) People; CWC offers rescue materials, kitchens, equipment and gear bronze packages (R40,000). As mentioned above, we offer professional chef dishes along with Team Silver packages (R75,000): 2.5-hour sessions of 20 chefs and Golden Tickets (R150,000) for full kitchen set up: 40 sessions of 40 are employed by 10 people each. Beneficiary Community
Whether it's 2 liters from the cafe or 200 liters from the hotel kitchen, all contributions are summed up.
To register or enquire about sponsorships, contact Geraldine at geraldine.engelman@cwc.org.za.
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