Marriott International Collaborates with Chefs with Compassion for Annual Nelson Mandela Day Cook-Off
- 23 July 2024
Cape Town, South Africa – 22 July 2024: For the fourth consecutive year, Marriott International has teamed up with Chefs with Compassion, a non-profit organisation, for its largest annual cook-off in honour of Nelson Mandela Day, producing over 1,250 litres of nutritious soup and feeding more than 5,000 South Africans.
The collaboration is part of Chefs with Compassion’s #67000litres for Mandela Challenge, which encourages participants to use leftover and rescued food to cook nourishing soup for those in need. This year, 15 Marriott International properties across brands including The Westin, Marriott Hotels, AC Hotels by Marriott, and various Protea Hotels by Marriott, enthusiastically joined the initiative.
Each hotel rescued surplus food and prepared as much soup as possible within 67 minutes on Mandela Day, delivering it to local non-profit organisations.
"Emerging from challenging times, it's vital to support our communities, especially those struggling to secure even one meal a day," says Johann Nortje, Chairperson of Marriott’s Southern Africa Business Council. "By joining forces with Chefs with Compassion on Mandela Day, we address food insecurity and promote sustainability. This initiative not only feeds the hungry but also highlights the collective power of unity and action. At Marriott, serving our world is a core value, and through this collaboration, we’re able to make a meaningful impact."
Coovashan Pillay, Food & Beverage Manager at Protea Hotel by Marriott Johannesburg Wanderers and a representative of Chefs with Compassion, says: "With 10.3 million tonnes of food wasted annually and 20 million people going to sleep hungry every night, the #67000litres for Mandela Challenge unites chefs, individuals, corporates, and communities to address food insecurity and reduce food waste. We are thrilled to work with Marriott International once again for this meaningful initiative.”
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About Marriott International
Marriott International, Inc. (Nasdaq: MAR) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of nearly 8,900 properties across more than 30 leading brands in 141 countries and territories. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts all around the world. The company offers Marriott Bonvoy®, its highly awarded travel program. For more information, please visit our website at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com. In addition, connect with us on Facebook and @MarriottIntl on X and Instagram.
Media Contact
Birgit Deibele
Senior Director, Communications – Sub-Saharan Africa, Marriott International
