Hospitality raises £370k to fight hunger

Last year, the hospitality industry raised £373,671 for an international charity dedicated to alleviating the world's hunger crisis. 

Since Action Against Hunger first launched 12 years years ago, the sector has raised a phenomenal £4.1m for the charity, which is enough to treat more than 73,000 children facing life-threatening hunger. 

Every year as part of the Love Food Give Campaign, hundreds of participating restaurants ask diners to turn their love for food into a charitable donation. 

By adding an optional £1 to the bill, restaurant-goers have made a major contribution to Action Against Hunger's efforts to predict and prevent hunger in 55 countries worldwide. A pound is enough to buy a day's worth of therapeutic food for children suffering from severe malnutrition. 

'It comes at a vital time'

Will Morgan-Macleod, director of fundraising and communications for the charity, comments: "We're blown away by the generosity of our partner restaurants and their customers, who have helped push the Love Food Give Campaign over the £4m mark since the campaign began 12 years ago. It comes at a vital time, with conflict, the climate crisis and economic shocks continuing to drive more and more communities around the world into a hunger crisis."

In 2023, the biggest fundraising restaurant was Manteca in Soho, which raised £7,800, while the largest group fundraiser was Hawksmoor with £135,000. The Pig and Super 8 also went above and beyond in their fundraising efforts.

In 2023, the hospitality sector and its customers faced mounting challenges, with rising energy bills, the cost of living crisis and staff shortages, making their fundraising efforts all the more impressive. 

"Love Food Give Food is one of the high points of our year," says Will Beckett, co-owner of Hawksmoor Restaurants. "Part of the reason we're in business is to be able to make a difference in ways like this, and I hope it's also part of why staff and customers have grown to love Hawksmoor."

Looking forward to 2024, the campaign hopes to continue its growth nationwide by getting more restaurants to participate. To register your interest in taking part, contact: [email protected].

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