By Angela Green
Restaurant News is sponsored by Newbridge Software
Nando’s is celebrating 10 years of its food donation programme, ‘No Chuckin’ Our Chicken’. Since the scheme’s inception in 2013, Nando’s has donated 4.3 million meals to charities and community groups across the UK and Ireland.
This year the business is on track to have its most successful totals yet, donating over 500,000 meals in 6 months, over 20k a week, 2,900 meals a day, around 124 meals per hour (mph).
Sam McCarthy, Head of Sustainability at Nando’s, said: “One of our goals at Nando’s is to Change Lives – in fact, it is part of our DNA.
“Our No Chuckin’ Our Chicken programme is one of the many ways we support the communities in which we work, with the aim of materially changing the lives of those we help. I am so proud of the work and the impact this programme has had over the past decade.
“It was born out of an idea from one our team members, who saw an opportunity to help others and to reduce their restaurant’s waste at the end of the day. Ten years later, what a journey we’ve been on, and I cannot wait to see what the future holds, there is so much more to come from No Chuckin’ Our Chicken.”
No Chuckin’ Our Chicken operates in every Nando’s restaurant across UK and Ireland with daily donations to local charities, community groups, food banks and soup kitchens.
Mike Steenkamp, Director of Port Grocery, collecting from Nando’s Cheshire Oaks, Bromborough said: “I am incredibly grateful to Nando’s for their remarkable initiative of channelling donations from local stores towards our community.
“Their commitment to preventing food waste while extending a helping hand to those in need is truly commendable. These contributions have not only nourished individuals who require support but have also showcased the positive impact that can be achieved when businesses prioritise social responsibility. Nando’s exemplifies how a company can make a profound difference by fostering a sense of togetherness and addressing both hunger and sustainability in one remarkable effort.”
The No Chuckin’ Our Chicken programme does not end with food donation. This year, Nando’s has donated £106,000 to 36 charities across Scotland and Wales as part of the Government’s mandatory paper bag donation money in restaurants, supporting grass-roots projects. Earlier this year, Nando’s also announced that it was expanding No Chuckin’ Our Chicken to include an employability programme, connecting jobseekers with employment opportunities across Nando’s restaurants throughout the UK & IRE. So far, a number of recruits have come through this programme and two of these team members have recently been promoted to buddy roles.
Sam McCarthy, Head of Sustainability at Nando’s, continued: “Developing No Chuckin’ Our Chicken into recruitment was the perfect evolution of the programme, utilising the connections with charities and community groups that we have made through food donations. Not only do we have a real business need in finding and recruiting new talent from different backgrounds, but this programme also provides opportunities for all involved to support young people into employment, raising their confidence and skills whilst they’re with us. I am delighted with the success we have seen with our recent new recruits and am excited for more people to join the Nando’s family through this programme.”
Nando’s joined forces with FareShare (UK) and Food Cloud (Ireland) to facilitate the No Chuckin’ Our Chicken in 2022 and have supported around 500 charities in that time. FareShare also instigated the employability programme, with Nando’s as their founding partner.
Kris Gibbon-Walsh, Chief Operating Officer at FareShare, said: “The commitment shown by Nando’s over the last ten years to ensure no good food goes to waste has been fantastic, which is why we’re delighted to be working with them on their No Chuckin’ Our Chicken programme. Via our FareShare Go service, Nando’s is providing much needed food, that would otherwise go to waste, to people in the community.
“In addition to providing food to communities, Nando’s has been working closely with FareShare to build pathways into employment for people with challenging backgrounds. Through this employability initiative, Nando’s is helping FareShare tackle the root cause of food insecurity. Since the start of the employability collaboration, FareShare has successfully placed five people into work with Nando’s.”
Nando’s is marking the 10 year celebration of No Chuckin’ Our Chicken with an awards presentation on Monday 18th September in Nando’s Putney Kitchen, recognising the incredible work and amazing efforts of those involved. Categories include: Regional Champ of the Year (Scotland, Wales, Ireland, North, Central, South, London Herts, London Oxfordshire), Charity of the Year and Restaurant of the Year. The evening will also include a special performance from Kinetika Bloco, a group of brass and woodwind players, drummers, steel pan and dynamic dancers showcasing South African music.