Nourishing a nation - Poultry industry's significant support for Chefs with Compassion’s soup challenge

In a demonstration of solidarity and commitment to fighting hunger, key players in the South African poultry industry, led by Poultry Bulletin and the South African Poultry Association, rallied once again this year to support Chefs with Compassion's #67000litres Challenge. This is the third year of their active support to the cause.

This year's generous donations include Quantum Foods (Nulaid) contributing 670 dozen eggs in Gauteng and 670 dozen in Cape Town, and Astral, Rainbow and Country Bird Holdings (CBH) each donating R67,000's worth of chicken.

Melinda Shaw, editor of Poultry Bulletin, shares the community’s enthusiasm, “Giving back in multiples of 67 on Mandela Day in partnership with Chefs with Compassion is a tradition that the poultry industry has embraced. Our community was quick to respond to our call with generous donations, and we are thrilled we can ensure that there will be nutritious chicken and eggs to enrich the food served to vulnerable communities on Madiba’s birthday.”

CEO of CBH, Brendon de Boer echoes the sentiment, "Hunger is at alarming levels in South Africa, and as producers of wholesome good-quality protein, we are privileged to contribute to Chefs with Compassion’s Mandela Day soup challenge for the third year. We all want to help keep Madiba’s legacy alive and we appreciate the opportunity to make sure that there will be nutritious Supreme chicken enriching the food served to vulnerable people on his birthday.”

The #67000litres Challenge aims to prepare and distribute 67,000 litres of nourishing soup to over 260,000 people across South Africa on Mandela Day. The initiative encourages everyone to make a pot of soup and donate it to a beneficiary of their choice. This year, Chefs with Compassion significantly surpassed its ambitious goal of preparing 67,000 litres of soup. In the final count on the day, a staggering 104,360 litres of soup was prepared by 114 registered participants, which included a diverse array of cooks, chefs, community caterers, NPOs, individuals, and corporates.

Chef Coo Pillay, founding director of Chefs with Compassion, concludes, “We urge companies to support Chefs with Compassion in our mission to Rescue, Cook, and Feed thousands of hungry people across Johannesburg on an ongoing basis. This support will enable us to continue making every day a Mandela Day.”

For more information, go to www.cwc.org.za or email info@cwc.org.za.

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About Chefs with Compassion

Chefs with Compassion is a nonprofit organisation committed to reducing food waste and hunger across South Africa. It was founded in March 2020 at the start of lockdown in South Africa as an organisation that rescues food to enable a network of cooks and community kitchens to cook and feed the thousands of vulnerable people in communities all over Johannesburg. Through initiatives like the #67000litres Challenge, they encourage collective action to create nutritious meals from food that would otherwise go to waste. Chefs with Compassion is dedicated to continuing their mission to Rescue | Cook | Feed beyond Mandela Day, challenging the food industry to be more sustainable and community-oriented.

DISTRIBUTED ON BEHALF OF CHEFS WITH COMPASSION by STRATEGIC PUBLIC RELATIONS. All media queries can be directed to Vanessa Naudé on vanessa@stratpr.co.za or via WhatsApp on 083 271 6000.