Shakey’s Pizza (PIZZA) and World Central Kitchens provide meals to communities in the wake of Typhoon Odette.
Last December 2021, Typhoon Odette (international name Rai) ravaged towns and cities in Visayas and Mindanao. Many Filipinos lost their homes. For days, families had limited access to food and water.
To help devastated communities, Shakey’s Pizza Asia Ventures, Inc., (PIZZA), the leading fast casual and food service chain group in the Philippines, partnered with World Central Kitchens (WCK), a non-profit organization that uses the power of food to nourish communities and strengthen economies in times of crisis and beyond.
In the wake of disasters, WCK mobilizes to the frontlines to start cooking and providing meals to people in need by partnering with organizations on the ground. WCK activates a network of food trucks or emergency kitchens to provide continuous support in areas impacted by natural disasters and other crises until such time that the people have recovered and their means of getting proper food and nutrition is secured.
Vicente Gregorio, PIZZA President and CEO, said, “Our partnership with WCK to support impacted communities was made possible by the magnanimity of 13-year old Joss Po, the son of our chairman, Christopher Po. He saw WCK on the news and promptly contacted Chef Jose Andres, its founder, to offer help, and the rest is history.”
Through the WCK partnership, PIZZA mobilized its kitchens in Visayas, one of the hardest hit areas in the country, to provide families in evacuation centers with freshly made and nutritious meals. On Christmas Day, PIZZA was able to deliver the first batch of warm meals to Don Bosco Cebu Caritas and Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.
Gregorio added, “These are communities that we have long served, and because of Joss, we can help rebuild them in ways we know best – by putting our kitchens to good use and making good, nutritious food available, especially during this time.”
According to Gregorio, this is a win-win for all. When disasters of this magnitude strike, restaurants become idle. Utilizing kitchens for relief is the best way to maximize PIZZA’s resources while supporting employees and serving impacted communities at the same.
WCK Founder Chef Jose Andres said, “One important aspect in helping these communities is regular and consistent presence. We need to be there everyday to provide them with meals until they get back on their feet, so it’s essential to find partners who can fill in the gaps.”
Since it opened its kitchens for relief in December, PIZZA’s kitchens have cooked and delivered 13,260 meals to 7 different communities in Visayas despite the scarcity of electricity, water, and gas. As of writing, relief efforts are still ongoing this January, and the Company plans to continue with the partnership with WCK until the communities have recovered and expand relief operations where possible.