Top chefs stir up industry support to fight hunger

Some of the UK’s leading chefs are whipping up industry recruits for international humanitarian organisation Action Against Hunger and its annual fundraising campaign ‘Fight Hunger. Eat Out’ that runs from 1-31 October.

Raymond Blanc, Antonio Carluccio, Giorgio Locatelli, Oliver Rowe and Michel Roux Jr are amongst a host of culinary greats calling on fellow chefs and restaurateurs to join the fundraising campaign.

Founded in 1998, Restaurants Against Hunger is an international movement that attracts a raft of support from restaurant owners, chefs and food writers supporting Action Against Hunger and its goal to end child hunger.

To date, Restaurants Against Hunger has helped raise more than £1.2 million towards the fight against child hunger.

Every October and centered around World Food Day on the 16th, thousands of food lovers across the country are invited to dine out at participating restaurants to raise vital funds to combat hunger and malnutrition worldwide.

Fundraising options are simple and easy to introduce. Restaurants can add an optional donation onto their bills – as little as 50p can make a real difference.

Alternatively, donating a small percentage from a designated dish on the menu or holding a special event are extremely successful ways of raising funds.

Raymond Blanc, OBE and ambassador for Action Against Hunger says: "I'm a keen supporter of Action Against Hunger's campaigns and what I particularly love about Fight Hunger. Eat Out is that it really works. It encourages diners to eat out and try new restaurants whilst uniting the industry and its clientele in helping those less advantaged. In 2008, 500 restaurants signed up for the cause. We hope that, not only will they all sign up again for 2009, but be joined by many more restaurants who want to get involved and help do their bit to raise much needed funds."

To register visit www.restaurantsagainsthunger.org or call the fundraising team on 020 293 6190. Restaurants will be sent a fundraising pack containing useful information, and table talkers and posters to communicate their involvement to their customers.

Restaurants taking part can benefit from an advertising campaign across the country encouraging consumers to fight hunger by eating out during October.

Other benefits include media coverage of Fight Hunger. Eat Out month in national, regional and local press; a listing in the Restaurants Against Hunger directory and a web link on the campaign's website.

Words: Clare Riley

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