We’re delighted to announce that wagamama have chosen FoodCycle as their new charity partner.
wagamama has long believed in positive eating for positive living, serving nourishing bowls prepared and cooked fresh every day in their kitchens. Like FoodCycle’s community meals, their restaurants are a place where people gather, share and enjoy delicious food, leaving rejuvenated and nourished.
The pan-Asian restaurant understands that accessing fresh food isn’t always easy, which is why they have chosen to support FoodCycle, celebrating the transformational power of coming together over food and to help more people access the food they need.
wagamama will:
- Make a financial donation equivalent to 5,000 3-course meals or 15,000 dishes
- Work with their suppliers to donate 10,000 items of food, drink and retail kits to FoodCycle’s community meals
- Help cook at FoodCycle’s community meals – wagamama chefs will work alongside volunteers to create and deliver special pan-Asian inspired meals
- Invite FoodCycle guests to dine at wagamama for free, with a bespoke member voucher
- Host thank you meals for volunteers
- Provide skill-share sessions for FoodCycle’s cooking and hosting volunteers
- Encourage wagamama staff to volunteer
wagamama CEO, Thomas Heier said: “wagamama and FoodCycle share a powerful alignment in missions, including bringing communities together over delicious food, championing plant-based options, and driving sustainability to reduce environmental impact. We’re proud to be partnering with them at such a crucial time and hope to bring positive impact to people who need it most.”
FoodCycle CEO, Sophie Tebbetts said: “As organisations, our values align in many ways, which is why we are really excited to be collaborating with wagamama. The donation of food will help add an Asian twist to some of our community meals, which we know our guests will love, and our volunteers will really benefit from the skill sharing that the training sessions and kitchen takeovers will bring.”
The partnership got off to a flying start when wagamama chefs joined the volunteer team at the FoodCycle’s community meal in Leeds Harehills. wagamama’s Global Executive Chef, Steve, Executive Chef, Surendra and Development Chef, Jamie worked alongside the local team of volunteers to dish up a fresh, tasty meal for over 40 guests. The menu consisted of garlic mushrooms on (cheesy) garlic bread, veggie katsu curry with sticky rice and cabbage slaw, finished off with white chocolate and ginger cheesecake and clementine cake.
This is the first of many cooking collaborations with more being planned across the North, South East, South West and central London.
