Masterchef Sanjeev Kapoor World Central Kitchen provide 15k meals daily to flood victims

Novotel New Delhi Aerocity is strengthening its commitment to sustainability by partnering with Charge Zone to introduce an Electric Vehicle (EV) charging station.

This move aligns with the hotel's goal to integrate environmentally friendly practices into its operations, reinforcing its leading position in the realm of sustainable hospitality.

The inauguration of the EV charging station marks a significant milestone in the hotel's pursuit of a more sustainable future, establishing fresh benchmarks in hospitality.

Shangri-La Eros New Delhi has been working with Noida Deaf Society (NDS) since 2010.

This initiative embodies their commitment to facilitate inclusivity and uplift the deaf community.

Noida Deaf Society, established in 2005 by the visionary Ms. Ruma Roka, serves as a beacon of hope for deaf children and young adults.

Through innovative methods, NDS provides vocational training and skill development courses tailored for those with hearing impairments, utilizing Indian sign language.

This progressive approach has created a supportive atmosphere, empowering them to pursue lasting careers across different sectors.

In a spirit of care and commitment, Shangri-La Eros New Delhi is honored to invest both time and financial support in training the exceptional individuals from Noida Deaf Society.

This partnership goes beyond mere career opportunities; it gives these individuals a profound sense of purpose and significance in their lives.

Aligned with NDS's noble vision of integrating Deaf children and youth into society through top-notch education and skill enhancement, this collaboration represents a beacon of hope, guiding these young individuals toward a future filled with empowerment and boundless possibilities.

Together with Noida Deaf Society, the hotel aspires to play a pivotal role in nurturing aspirations and paving the way for a brighter future.

Since 2010, Shangri-La Eros New Delhi has maintained a partnership with NDS and consistently recruits graduates from each batch trained in various hospitality sectors like Concierge Services, Laundry, Housekeeping, food and beverage service, spa & salon, and Security.

The primary goal of this partnership is to integrate the hearing-impaired into mainstream society by providing them with sustainable avenues for livelihood.

At Shangri-La Eros New Delhi, the Human Resources team and department leaders carefully assess each person's abilities and place them in departments that align with their skills.

Additionally, the hotel has created an internal course and is collaborating with Noida Deaf Society on this initiative, further empowering the hearing-impaired to live autonomously.

"We are honoured to be associated with the Noida Deaf Society, an organisation that is a guiding light for many young and inspiring individuals. This affiliation is not just about providing employment,it's about fostering independence, instilling confidence, and nurturing dreams. Witnessing the resilience and talent of the individuals from the Noida Deaf Society has been a humbling experience for all of us. We are committed to supporting their journey towards self-reliance and are inspired by their determination. Together, we aim to create a world where every voice is heard and every dream is within reach," said Abhishek Sadhoo, General Manager, Shangri-La Eros New Delhi.

The achievements of Noida Deaf Society shine brightly, adorned with prestigious awards such as the Rashtra Bhushan Award, The Soch India Award, and the Shell Helen Keller Award, among others. Additionally, their partnerships with renowned brands like JW Marriott, The Leela Palaces and Hotels, The Lalit, Radisson, and Fairmont hotels and resorts underscore their significant impact in empowering and providing employment opportunities for young individuals with hearing impairments.

Shangri-La Eros New Delhi and Noida Deaf Society come together with a deep commitment to social responsibility.

Their alliance reflects a strong dedication to contributing to society, fostering development, and making a significant difference. United, they strive towards creating a world where limitless opportunities are available to all, regardless of hearing abilities.

This reaffirms the belief that every person deserves not just an equal opportunity but also the chance to showcase their abilities, leading the way toward a more inclusive and compassionate society.

With venues in over 70 countries spanning 290 locations, Hard Rock also launched Hard Rock Digital in 2020, an online sportsbook, retail sportsbook and internet gaming platform.

To mark World Environment Day 2023, Westlife Foodworld Ltd- owner and operator of McDonald's restaurants in West and South India will progressively install rooftop solar panels on one-third of its new restaurants in FY24.

This move is part of the company’s goal to increase the use of renewable energy.

In the last two years, Westlife has reduced its carbon footprint by 16,308 tonne by saving 19.58 million units of electricity, akin to planting 749,086 trees.

“We are committed to a lower carbon footprint, achieved through increased recycling and reuse of materials, use of renewable energy, and reduced consumption. We recognise the critical role that businesses must play in addressing climate change and we are proud to walk the talk. With each step, we are becoming stronger in our fight against climate change. We look forward to continuing our efforts towards a greener future and to serving our customers with delicious and sustainable food,” shared Smita Jatia, Vice Chairperson, Westlife Foodworld.

Westlife’s commitment to sustainability extends to measures that can help conserve resources. The company has eliminated single-use plastics from customer-facing packaging. It is also improving energy efficiency at its existing restaurants with the use of LED and OATS (order assembly table set).

Sustainable sourcing is driven by tapping into green-certified ingredients such as UTZ-certified coffee beans, one of the world’s largest sustainable programmes for coffee and cocoa farming. The cooking oil in McDonald’s -West and South- kitchens is converted into biodiesel, as Westlife is known for pioneering the recycling of converted biodiesel in India.

The drive to sustain the environment is not restricted to processes and equipment but has been adopted by Westlife’s employees too. Over 10,000 employees have taken the ‘Lifestyle for the Environment’ Pledge on the MyGov Pledge platform to showcase their commitment to consciously participate in taking up environmental lifestyle and inculcate long-term environment friendly habits. Hundreds of them from 11 cities have taken up beach-cleaning, planting saplings, and raising awareness about water conservation to mirror the company’s focus on green initiatives.

To promote planting for a greener future and celebrate World Environment Day in the community, McDonald's restaurants in West and South India are giving away Marigold seeds to their customers.

Each of these steps, including using more renewable energy, will advance the company toward its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050. The pledge through the United Nations Climate Change reflects Westlife's deep commitment to environmental conservation and reducing its carbon footprint.

CLEAR, a rapidly expanding bottled water brand in India, has entered into a partnership with Recycle.

On its 18th anniversary on May 7th, CLEAR commits to promoting effective waste recycling practices in collaboration with its channel partners.

Through this initiative, CLEAR aims to recycle an equivalent amount of plastic waste generated and contribute twice as much to recycling efforts.

By striving to achieve a plastic-negative status by 2027, CLEAR sets a noteworthy goal in its sustainability journey.

In this partnership, Recycle.Green will support CLEAR in its efforts to minimize plastic waste by launching a nationwide campaign that involves collaboration with all of its channel partners.

Recycle.Green will integrate its framework extensively into the system, aiding CLEAR in achieving its objectives of effective plastic waste management.

“Owing to this and our efforts to create a CLEAR DUNIYA, this partnership will help us take decisive actions to reduce plastic waste and repurpose recycled plastic for practical use. The tie-up with Recycle. Green is a clear step in this direction and just one of the several initiatives we are working on as a part of our ESG goals,” said Mr. Nayan Shah, Founder & CEO of Clear Premium Water

As part of their collaboration, CLEAR has developed a comprehensive framework to ensure the collection and recycling of all plastic waste generated at their plants and from used bottles.

They are actively raising awareness and providing training to their employees, distributors, and sellers to foster a Zero Waste mission. Furthermore, CLEAR is implementing rewards and incentives to encourage plastic recovery and recycling.

To promote a zero waste culture and enhance engagement with waste collectors and recyclers, they are offering incentives and discounts to customers through the Recycle Green app. Additionally, CLEAR is prioritizing the integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices by providing training and increasing awareness among its workforce.

Furthermore, CLEAR's manufacturing facility located in Surat is an environmentally friendly and zero-discharge unit that utilizes 35% less plastic compared to traditional bottles.

CLEAR has set a target to attain net-zero carbon emissions by 2030, and it plans to achieve this through various sustainability initiatives.

These include engaging in tree plantation efforts, utilizing recycled paper and furniture, adopting electric vehicles for logistics, incorporating renewable energy sources in manufacturing processes, and employing renewable plant-based materials for packaging.

These actions aim to not only reduce CLEAR's carbon footprint but also combat plastic pollution, aligning with their plastic-negative initiative.

The Westin Kolkata Rajarhat has embraced sustainability as a key aspect of their operations and has taken a significant step towards conservation.

They have adopted a sustainable solution for drinking water that aligns with Marriott International's sustainability policy.

This plastic-free solution not only eliminates the use of plastic but also reduces carbon emissions by eliminating the need to transport plastic water bottles over long distances.

In collaboration with Lucerne Waters Private Limited, The Westin Kolkata Rajarhat has installed an automated bottling plant that produces sustainable drinking water using biodegradable materials.

The purpose of this initiative is to reduce the usage of single-use plastic. With a daily consumption of 3000 liters of drinking water for its 304 rooms, the hotel has switched to serving water in glass bottles to support this plastic-free initiative.

“We are happy to collaborate with Lucerne Waters Private Limited to develop sustainable solutions which aligns with Marriott International's. This partnership with Lucerne Waters Private Limited marks the hotel's first initiative towards making a positive impact on the environment. The hotel is committed to developing more such environmentally friendly drive that meet such evolving needs and provide innovative approaches to sustainable living” said Mr. Subhash Sinha,General Manager of The Westin Kolkata Rajarhat

The Westin Kolkata Rajarhat's decision to adopt a plastic-free solution for drinking water not only helps to decrease the amount of plastic waste generated by the hotel but also plays a role in promoting conservation.

This initiative serves as an inspiration for other businesses to adopt similar practices and contribute towards creating a sustainable future where single-use plastics are eliminated.

The hotel is dedicated to promoting responsible and eco-friendly tourism practices and reducing its carbon footprint, thus combining the features of both responsible tourism and ecotourism.

NHCC has consistently placed a strong emphasis on sustainable initiatives as a core value in providing an exceptional hospitality experience for guests.

The hotel has taken a pioneering step by becoming the first to introduce O by Aria LifeWater, a cutting-edge technology that produces water from air and uses remineralization to create pure drinking water, which is bottled in glass.

In an effort to minimize its carbon footprint and enhance efficiency, NHCC has implemented a dual solar power and water heating system, which is the first and only one of its kind in India.

This innovative system can heat up to 4,000 liters of water per day and generate 9 kilowatts of electricity per day, resulting in a considerable reduction in electricity consumption.

"The use of innovative technology to generate water from air will significantly reduce the dependence on groundwater and contribute significantly to the conservation of the environment. We will continue to adopt newer technologies and strive to provide positive hospitality." said Mr. Rubin Cherian, General Manager Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre

NHCC has established a strategic partnership with Orbisk, a company that assists commercial kitchens in reducing food waste and improving their food management practices.

Orbisk utilizes advanced technology to detect and identify the types of food that are being wasted, and then provides guidance to hotel staff on how to improve food consumption practices.

Using its advanced technology, NHCC has taken steps to offset the consumption of a significant amount of groundwater by providing O by Aria LifeWater to the hotel's rooms, restaurants, and coffee shops.

This will result in a yearly offset of approximately 900,000 liters of groundwater. Additionally, the hotel's dual solar system is capable of producing 136 units of electricity per day, which is equivalent to 48,960 kWh of energy per year, enough to heat 4,000 liters of water.

By implementing these measures, the hotel has reduced its carbon dioxide emissions by 34.6 metric tonnes. Furthermore, over the 25-year lifespan of the solar power system, approximately 1,224,000 kWh of energy will be generated, leading to a significant reduction in energy consumption.

Taking a step closer to sustainability and climatic change, Burger King® transitioned 31% of its North American field team fleet to electric vehicles (EVs) across 16 states, with goal of 100% EVs by 2030.

This move is the next step in delivering on Restaurant Brands International’s (parent company of Burger King) science-based targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030, versus a 2019 baseline.

The field team is critical to the brand’s success as the first line of support for Franchisees locally, living in various states across the U.S. and travelling to restaurants to provide the level of service BK Franchisees deserve. This adds up to tens of thousands of miles driven each month.

“Franchisee success is the end goal of everything our field team does, and restaurant visits are critical to this partnership,” said Jeromy Gwin, BK Corporate Franchise Business Partner.

Burger King worked with Element Fleet Management, the largest pure-play automotive fleet manager in the world, to source the EVs and launch the program.

“It was instantly clear Burger King is serious about following through with their commitments and finding solutions that have long-term payoff and positive impact on the environment,” said David Madrigal, Chief Commercial Officer at Element Fleet Management by adding that the brand’s enthusiasm for the goal, combined with the team’s responsiveness and active partnership enabled them to mobilize vehicle sourcing and charging infrastructure installations at record speed making this their fastest program launch across the nation to date.

Bengaluru-based online food delivery platform Swiggy has made ambulance services available to delivery partners and their dependant.

Delivery partners can immediately get in touch with the ambulance service, by pressing the SOS button on the partner app or calling a toll-free number. The average response time at the moment is 12 minutes.

“We are committed to the safety of our delivery partners and over the years have been investing in products and procedures that prioritise their safety and well-being. By providing ambulance service, we ensure that our delivery partners are safe, at ease, and have access to assistance when they most need it,” shared Mihir Rajesh Shah, Head of Operations, Swiggy.

The service is free for delivery partners and their dependents, spouses and two children who are covered under the Swiggy's insurance.

Delivery partners can also choose to avail the ambulance for family members not covered under their insurance at a subsidised cost.

The platform currently has over 300,000 delivery partners across the country.

It has partnered with Dial4242 Ambulance Services. Delivery partners will simply need to validate their partner ID; no documentation will be needed for the procedure.

After being piloted in Bengaluru, Delhi, NCR, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Pune, and Kolkata, the service was made available throughout all of India. Depending on the seriousness of the situation, Dial4242 can deploy a variety of ambulances, including BLS ambulances, cardiac ambulances, ALS, interstate ambulances, Covid-19 ambulances, and hearse vans.

"We have 10,000+ ambulances across 500+ cities in India with diverse capacities and on-ground support to reach the victim in a matter of minutes, saving a valuable life. For Swiggy's partners, "the closest cashless hospital will also be found, ensuring they get quick care,” added Jeetendra Lalwani, Co-Founder, Dial4242.

The programme was launched a few weeks after a Swiggy delivery partner lost his life in Noida after his scooter and a car collided.

In an initiative to protect and conserve the environment JW Marriott Hotel Bengaluru has partnered with Lucerne Waters Private Limited to launch its in-house bottling plant.

Many industries have been adopting environmental-friendly measures and the hospitality sector understands its role in making a difference.

Keeping in mind the harmful hazards of plastic waste caused to the environment, JW Marriott Hotel Bengaluru has replaced all plastic bottles in the property with eco-friendly glass bottles.

“At JW Marriott Bengaluru, to be able to create a positive impact in the environment is equally important to us, as taking care of our guests. The launch of the in-house bottling plant is the first step by the hotel towards providing safe drinking water in sealed glass bottles,” said Gaurav Sinha, Hotel Manager at JW Marriott Bengaluru by adding that the replacement of plastic containers with glass bottles, is their way of contributing towards the reduction of carbon footprint and boosting sustainability.

The initiative is a huge leap towards a sustainable tomorrow, reducing the carbon footprint left behind by the plastic toxins.

The 281 rooms’ property consumes 1000 liters per day, which will now be available only in glass bottles for the guests both in the room as well as restaurants.

Going for a green and healthy alternative, these eco-friendly bottles are filled with Alkaline mineral water with a PH ranging between 7.2 to 8.

JW Marriott Bengaluru produces as many as 2500 to 3000 glass bottles per day, an average of 10 bottles per minute. The hotel aims in eradicating single-use plastic bottles by the year 2023, across the hotel. 

If one looks up the United Nation’s definition of sustainable development, it is described as – “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”, shared Deepinder Goyal, CEO & Founder, Zomato in a blog post as it shared a report on sustainability on World Environment Day on 5^th June.

He shared that he want to build a Zomato that outlives the current generation – as an organisation that continues to positively contribute to society long after we’ve left.

In the report published, Zomato outlines six sustainable goals to take forward including; Climate conscious deliveries, Waste-free world, Zero hunger, Sustainable livelihoods, Health, safety and wellbeing for all and Diversity, equity and inclusion.

The company is also aiming at 100% adoption of EVs in our delivery fleet by 2030 as part of joining The Climate Group’s EV100 initiative. As of March 2022, it already had 4,500 active EV-based delivery partners.

Zomato is also looking at enabling cycle-based and EV-based deliveries and has 18% orders delivered on bicycles in FY22.

“Our aim is to be at the forefront of this journey in our part of the world, and also lead and inspire other startups to do better. Collective action is a bigger goal for us, than just fixing what we break ourselves,” he further pointed.

With an aim to harness sustainable solutions and create a more positive impact on the planet, KFC India announces KFConscious.

A first for the QSR industry in India, the brand launched its most sustainable restaurant in T N Nagar, Chennai, as a mark in the brand’s commitment to grow sustainably, while being good stewards to the environment.

The restaurant design and operations integrate energy efficiency, usage of responsible materials and waste diversion.

“We are passionate about feeding a future with more purpose, and are committed to creating a better future for our customers, communities, and the environment. KFConscious has provided an impetus to our efforts in driving meaningful change and pioneering sustainable development in the restaurant industry,” shared Samir Menon, Managing Director, KFC India.

Another KFC outlet located in the Yamunanagar Expressway food court is marked by energy efficiency.

The brand aims to launch 20 more such restaurants by 2022, striving to enable consumers to enjoy their KFC favourites in a much more responsible manner.

KFC India has made significant progress on its sustainability journey till date, further strengthened by the launch of KFConscious:

§  Renewable Energy: The solar panels at the restaurant in Chennai will help save about 18,000 units of power every year, thereby reducing carbon emissions from electricity consumption.

§  Water wastage: Recycling water is a practice across most KFC restaurants in the country; with KFConscious, 100% of the rejected water from the RO is utilized in flushing systems in the washrooms, ensuring 0% water wastage at the Chennai restaurant

§  Energy efficiency: The usage of natural and LED lighting ensures increases energy efficiency. Energy management system in the kitchen ensures optimized use of electricity. Further, use of inverter type air conditioning ensuring 30% reduction in energy consumption.

§  New Environmentally Friendly Materials: Eco-friendly materials such as sustainable laminate and local clay tiles for wall finishes.

§  Promoting sustainable lifestyles: Customers are motivated towards low-carbon behaviours, such as bringing their own carry bag for takeaway orders; with plans going forward to provide bicycle racks and EV charging stations. The brand tested e-cycles for food delivery at select restaurants in Gurgaon, Kolkata and Bangalore contributing to minimizing carbon emissions.

The efforts with KFConscious align with KFC’s global commitment of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 46% by 2030. This is in addition to a sustainability commitment of all plastic-based, consumer-facing packaging to be recoverable or reusable by 2025.

ITC Gardenia, Bengaluru has been accredited by the USGBC (United States Green Building Council), making it the third hotel in the world to achieve the LEED Zero Carbon Certification, after ITC Windsor, Bengaluru and ITC Grand Chola, Chennai.

ITC Gardenia was started in 2009 when it was conferred the highest rating for green buildings in the world - the LEED India Platinum Rating.

This recognition made it Asia’s first platinum rated hotel and is yet another manifestation of ITC's leadership in Sustainability Practices.

LEED Zero encourages a holistic approach for buildings and places, which will contribute to a regenerative future and demonstrates a deep commitment to implementing building and design strategies that assure an enhanced quality of life.

“Following its philosophy of “Forward to Green, Back to Nature” ITC Gardenia exemplifies ITC's vision and is perhaps the perfect example of finding the common rhythm between man-made and   natural environment. The LEED Zero carbon certification for ITC Gardenia is a matter of huge pride for us as our journey towards Responsible Luxury started with ITC Gardenia in 2009 when it was conferred the LEED Platinum certification. Guests staying at ITC Gardenia consume lesser carbon footprints, compared to any other hotel of this size. It is our humble attempt to educate them on not only being eco-friendly but also eco-responsible.” said Manas V. Krishnamoorthy, General Manager, ITC Gardenia.

ITC Hotels has pioneered several ground-breaking initiatives on environment, hotel ecosystem, health, and well-being. From LEED platinum ratings, to being one of the first chain to eliminate single use plastic free products, deployment of radiation harmonisers across the chain, farm to fork low carbon footprint cuisine, clean air and more.

Tata Starbucks Private Limited launches its latest partner (employee) benefit program in India, placing the safety, comfort and aspirations of its women partners at the forefront.

The new ‘Women Transportation Program’ offers its women partners working in closing shifts, a seamless commute facility to safely travel back home post night shifts, empowering them to make career choices that support their growth.

“Partners are the heartbeat of Starbucks and we will always keep partner care at the centre of how we choose to do business. With The Women Transportation Program, our aim is to support our women partners in every possible way and at every step of their journey, empowering them to grow and progress in their careers,” shared Sushant Dash, CEO, Tata Starbucks Pvt. Ltd. 

This program provides women partners a chauffeur-driven car, enabled with a GPS tracking system and equipped with other safety measures for any emergencies.

The program, which has currently been launched across Mumbai and Bangalore covering few stores, will be extended to a few more routes in the coming years.

The café chain has also launched its ninth all-women store on 8^th October, 2021 at Jio World Drive in Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC). This new store is led by female partners who are Coffee Masters and is the brand’s first store in India to have a four-tap nitro capability.

The new initiative supports the aspirations of Tata Starbucks’ women partners by offering them the flexibility to opt for a shift that meets their professional and personal requirements, thus encouraging an inclusive and supportive work environment.

“The launch of Tata Starbucks’ Women Transportation Program is a moment of pride for us and marks an important milestone in our journey of supporting and empowering our partners. This initiative is another step towards Tata Starbucks’ efforts to achieve 40 percent gender diversity by the end of 2022”, added Nabamita Banerjee, Head, Human (Partner) Resources, Tata Starbucks Pvt. Ltd.

Bengaluru-based food delivery firm Swiggy has introduced a two-day paid monthly period time-off policy for its female delivery partners.

Upon opting for the time-off, the delivery partners will receive a minimum earnings guarantee.

“In 2016 we onboarded our first female delivery partner in Pune. Since then we have been striving to build inclusivity and diversity across the platform with a commitment towards increasing the number of women delivery partners in Swiggy’s delivery fleet,” shared a blogpost from the food delivery brand.

It also mentioned that to bring about necessary changes, it ensures to stay cognizant of the challenges its women delivery partners face, especially with respect to access and safety. “Creating an environment that encourages women to consider delivering with Swiggy is a priority, and here are some of our recent efforts in that direction,” it added further.

As per the statement, several women who are interested in on-boarding with Swiggy either lack access to personal motor vehicles, or don’t have a driver’s license at all.

“We’re addressing this issue in two ways. First, assuring them that delivery by bicycle is a viable option for short-distance orders. In fact, 22% of our women delivery partners deliver on bicycles. Second, we’re also working with electric mobility partners to facilitate EV cycles and bikes (sub 25kmph) on rent,” it added.

Out of 200,000 delivery partners that Swiggy has, about 1,000 of them are women delivery partners; interestingly 99 per cent of them are under the age of 45 and 35 per cent of them want to continue further their studies.

In celebration of 50 years of coffee and connections globally, Starbucks India is gifting customers a limited-edition reusable cup on purchase of any handcrafted beverage on October 2nd.

Coinciding with Gandhi Jayanti, this initiative is in alignment with the company’s goal to reduce waste to landfills by 50% by 2030.

Starbucks is encouraging customers to shift away from single use product consumption, championing the use of recycled content and promoting reusability. 

In a first for the company globally, Starbucks India will offer promotions to motivate customers to reduce single use cup waste and adopt long-term sustainable behavior.

“The global reusable cup initiative conceived in celebration of our milestone anniversary, reinforces our aspiration to be people and planet positive. Through this effort we invite our customers across the country to contribute their bit towards creating a better future for people and the planet we all share,” said Sushant Dash, CEO, Tata Starbucks Pvt Ltd.

In their constant endeavor to adopt greener options, Starbucks has implemented sustainable initiatives like the use of compostable straws, wooden cutlery only on request, eliminating single-use plastic and shifting from single-use to recyclable packaging. Along with investing in innovative agricultural, reforestation and water conservation practices; better waste management in stores and in communities, the Bring Your Own Tumbler program; developing more eco-friendly operations and expanding plant-based and environmentally friendly menu options.

“As we mark our anniversary milestone, this reusable cup is our gift to customers and our invitation to join Starbucks on our journey to becoming a resource-positive-company,” said Sara Trilling, president, Starbucks Asia Pacific.

“On the Zomato app, customers always had the option to skip cutlery with their order. However, very few customers used that option. We learnt that it wasn’t because they always wanted the cutlery, but because they weren’t making an active choice. Defaults almost never get changed by customers during product flows,” shared Deepinder Goyal, Co-Founder & CEO, Zomato that it taking a step closer to environmental cause by saying no to cutlery when you order food online.

The food delivery platform surveyed thousands of their customers, and a whopping 90%+ of them said that they didn’t really need plastic cutlery with their orders. Keeping this in mind, it has decided to change the default mode for cutlery – customers will now have to explicitly request for cutlery, tissues, and straws, if they need it. This is now a ‘opt-in’ instead of a ‘opt-out’.

“We all know that plastic is bad for the environment. But did you know that a single plastic spoon can take 200-500 years to decompose? Millions of such plastic spoons get consumed every day, and we all contribute to it. This seemingly small change on the Zomato app will help save up to 5,000 kilos of plastic in one day – that is up to 2 million kilos of plastic in a year,” added Goyal by pointing that this will also help restaurant partners save ₹2-5 (~0.5-1% of order value) on every order going forward.

He also urged restaurant partners to start channeling these cost savings to kickstart the transition towards non plastic packaging.

The Gurgaon-based platform also asked customers to drive compliance here. If a restaurant sends you cutlery when they weren’t supposed to, or doesn’t send cutlery when you had asked for it, please share feedback via the post delivery prompt (asking ‘did the restaurant send you cutlery?’) on the app.

The feature has already been rolled out to 50% of their customers. This will be rolled out to all customers over the next 3-4 weeks.

Papa John’s International, Inc. has announced new hiring, referral and appreciation bonuses for its approximately 14,000 front-line team members in the company’s corporate restaurants and supply chain, recognizing again their essential role in the company’s record growth and industry outperformance.

Papa John’s also plans to make additional investments in its full-time staff in its higher volume company-owned stores to support continued growth.

The company expects to invest approximately $2.5 million in these initiatives during the remainder of 2021.

“The incredible hard work and commitment of our team members, which powered Papa John’s tremendous performance and transformation over the past 18 months, is just as important to our sustained long-term growth. Similar to programs being offered by our franchisees, these new bonuses for our team members in our corporate restaurants and QCCs reflect the value we place on growing, retaining and supporting our dedicated team,” said Rob Lynch, President & CEO, Papa John’s that has also expanded health, wellness, paid time-off and college tuition benefits we rolled out during the pandemic.

Papa John’s new bonus programs offer $50 referral bonuses for corporate team members for every new hire they bring in, with an additional $50 bonus paid to the new team member.

Existing corporate team members are also eligible for up $400 in appreciation bonuses to be paid in increments throughout the remainder of the year.

KFC India strengthens its efforts to provide support to team members and communities in need through the ongoing Covid wave.

As part of its ‘KFC Care’campaign, the brand has undertaken various relief initiatives. Supported by the Yum! Foundation, KFC Care pledges to provide medical supplies & essentials to hospitals, food relief kits and home care Covid kits to underprivileged families.

To safeguard the safety and well-being of its team members across India, the brand has extended a Vaccination Drive for its team members, including delivery riders & restaurant managers, across 480+ KFC restaurants in the country.

“Since the onset of the pandemic last year, we have been making efforts to combat its impact on communities in need. Stepping up our efforts this year, we have extended support to our team members and identified need areas as hospital supplies to charitable hospitals, food kits as well as home care Covid essentials for underprivileged families,” said Samir Menon, MD, KFC India.

In association with partners as ResponseNet and Smile Foundation, KFC Care would provide relief to families of migrant workers and daily wage labourers, with kits of food & hygiene essentials, serving more than 1 million meals.

To support underprivileged families nursing diagnosed patients, home care covid kits will be provided to them. In addition, medical equipment for Covid care will be provided to more than 50 public and charitable hospitals. Ramping up efforts to safeguard the health & safety of team members& customers, the brand is covering the cost of both vaccines to 10,000 team members, including delivery riders, and is extending amenities as flexibility in scheduling shifts, option to rest with time-off after getting vaccinated, etc. to get both shots done.

The second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has triggered an unimaginable crisis across the nation, leaving many in a distressed condition. Stepping up during these challenging times, Masterchef and philanthropist Sanjeev Kapoor along with World Central Kitchen (WCK) founded by Chef José Andres and Taj Hotels started an initiative in April 2021 by providing high-quality meals to frontline healthcare workers of the country.

Within a month, the team managed to provide more than five lakh delectable meals in 10 states across the country.

The genesis of the partnership between Masterchef Sanjeev Kapoor and Taj Hotels can be traced to last year when the pandemic first hit the country. This year, WCK joined forces with Chef Kapoor and Taj Group to take fresh cooked nutritious meals to our healthcare warriors who are working non-stop against the coronavirus. The menu is specially curated keeping in mind their nutritional needs to fight the pandemic.

“The healthcare workers are our frontline warriors, who have been selflessly taking care of our families and dear ones during such a stressful time. It is therefore our responsibility to take care of them. With our initiative, we are providing our doctors, nurses, and hospital staff with appetizing meals while also equipping them with the desired nutritional benefits. Our meals are specifically designed to create the perfect confluence between health and taste. It ensures that our frontline workers are at their best in our nation’s battle against the COVID-19 pandemic,” added the Padma Shri awardee.

Chef Kapoor and Chef José Andres of World Central Kitchen are currently supplying around 25,000 free meals daily for the healthcare staff on duty at various hospitals across 14 cities. Some of these cities include Delhi, Gurugram, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Goa, Lucknow, and Varanasi alongside others.

Chef José Andres and Chef Sanjeev Kapoor visited various hospitals and kitchens to thank and motivate the staff helping in this noble cause.

What if we tell you that every month, you can relish an exclusive new burger at Bun & Only? It doesn't stop at that, the folks at Bun & Only have teamed up with renowned chefs/culinary geniuses in Mumbai to curate a range of limited edition burgers each month for you to have the ultimate gourmet burger experience!

On World Burger Day, Team Bun & Only is delighted to announce the launch of an exciting property called the Bun & Chefs, featuring talented chefs and entrepreneurs like Chef Karishma Sakhrani, Chef Seefah Ketchaiyo, to create limited edition delicious burgers that will launch each month and will be available for a said period.

Along with this exciting series, the team has also decided that 10% of the sale from this campaign each month will be donated towards the noble Mission Oxygen foundation.

"At Bun & Only we introduced the city to a gourmet burger experience delivered to your doorstep. We’ve been pushing the envelope hard over the year, and have been constantly innovating; with more than six new burgers added to the menu since launch. We now want to take this experience of "seriously unique but delicious" to the next level by collaborating with our friends from the hospitality industry to design limited-edition burgers for the menu,” shared Sameer Uttam Singh.

Commenting on the same, Chef Karishma Sakhrani says, "I'm super excited to be a part of Bun & Chefs! It's a great endeavor to help people in these times while doing something I love. Staying close to my cooking style and what I'm best known for, I’ve created Bun & Only's first vegan burger - The BBQ Jackfruit & Guac. It's vegan, it's naughty yet a little nice, everything is made in-house from scratch and it comes together as a wholesome, juicy, messy, and ugly-delicious burger.”

We are currently living in unfortunate times where the deadly pandemic has taken several lives and affected infinite families.

QSR chain Rollery is trying to help these families and the frontline workers to make them feel safe and taken care of. 

They have joined the initiative of helping in feeding the COVID patients by fast tracking their delivery lines for the COVID affected families to help them get their meals on time. 

They have also decided to give 100% of their sales that are generated via their website, app and other direct channels to the COVID relief fund.

What’s more is that they are giving FREE meals to the frontline workers to make sure they are well fed while they work tirelessly to save the nation from this pandemic.

Rollery believes in giving back to the community and together this difficult time shall pass.

Guided by the core belief that we are all in this together, McDonald’s India – North and East, has announced its employee inoculation drive.

The initiative is aimed at benefitting more than 5,000 people employed across the corporate office in Delhi, full-time and part-time restaurant employees across 11 states in North and East India including delivery riders.

The company will cover the cost of the vaccination*of employee and their spouse and offer paid time off to employees post their vaccination if required.

“The current situation requires a collective effort and nobody will be safe until everyone is safe. We have a responsibility towards our people – the heart and soul of McDonald’s. The safety and wellness of our people guide our decision-making”, said, Sanjeev Agrawal, Chairman and Development Licensee, Connaught Plaza Restaurants by adding that vaccination is essential in the fight against the pandemic, and we are actively encouraging McDonald’s employees to take this important step.

McDonald’s restaurants in North and East of India are operated by Connaught Plaza Restaurants Pvt. Ltd.  It operates 150 restaurants across North and East of India and provides direct employment to more than 5,000 people.

New-Delhi-based cloud kitchen Cheferd Foods, which runs brands like POMP, Burger in My Box, and Deli Salad co., is extending free meal service to daily wagers and marginalized communities across South Delhi at present.

Cheferd Foods has been distributing meal packets for more than a week now across AIIMS, Safdarjung Hospital, and slum regions around the Okhla region.

“Our society is going through an unprecedented time as of now. However, the most affected people are the ones at the bulging bottom of the pyramid. They are the most vulnerable in this situation. Our food distribution service is to ensure that we do everything in our capacity to help them in this hour of need,” shared Sehaj Singh Kukreja, Co-founder, Cheferd Foods.

The meal distribution takes place during the lunch hours between 2 PM and 4 PM every day, wherein a nutritious meal box is given to people across these regions. To keep its patrons delighted, Cheferd Foods also changes its menu daily.

The cloud kitchen aims to continue this service for at least one and a half months and will extend it depending on how the situation unravels. Cheferd Foods is also extending 3 masks per person to create awareness around the pandemic. At present, the overall distribution is to the tune of 700 to 800 boxes a day and is expected to be scaled up to 1,500 to 2,000 boxes in the coming few days.

“We can see the impact of our initiative. We believe that even if our efforts bring a smile to the face of a single person, it makes everything that we do a lot more meaningful,” added Tushar Anand, Co-founder, Cheferd Foods.

The city of joy, Kolkata’s leading entrepreneurs come together to for a “RAPID ACTION FORCE” - Entrepreneurs of Kolkata (EOK) is a group of Business individuals & start-ups from kolkata lead by a core group which includes entrepreneurs like Sagar Daryani, founder, Wow! Momo, Pulak Chamaria, owner Infinity Group, Aditya Ladsaria, founder Chai Break and Amit Saraogi of Anmol Feeds to name a few.

EOK is aimed at combating covid’s second wave in a much more organised and swift manner.

EOK is run by a group of business individuals & start-ups from the city of Joy who are bringing in agility, quick thinking, crowd funding and nimble footedness to the fight. The initiative is called “Breathe Again” - in which they are partnering with leading Govt and Private Hospitals/Organisation and creating an additional force against the second wave of Covid 19.

EOK’s Breathe Again aims at facilitating Covid care facilities - Setting up 500 + HDU / Isolation beds in partership with Private / Govt Hospitals. Oxygen Supply & Procurement of Oxygen Concentrators, Medical Infra support such as procurement of Ventilators, Bipap Machines & medical devices.

EOK is raising funds from amongst their own network & connects with the ultimate goal to set up more Hospital beds in partnership with leading Government & Private Hospitals within the city. The organisation is also using its connect to arrange for ventilators & oxygen cylinders for hospitals.

The vision is to set up 500 plus hospital beds including 200 + ICU beds in Kolkata as the situations get more critical & grimmer with every day.

The dymanic team is also fast-tracking the import of 50 Bipap Ventilators from Singapore through the support of Maharashtra Chambers of Commerce & Temasek Singapore.

 “The initiative rekindles the spirit of entrepreneurship in the city; for entrepreneurs are those who believe in brining a change. Our aim is to equip the government and hospitals with secondary forces. This initiative provides the business and start-up ecosystem of Kolkata to give back to the city in this hour of need. We request more people from Kolkata to come forward and contribute in making this initiative a larger and more impactful success. Even a Rs. 100 each contributed by residents of Kolkata will go a long way in making this crown funding more impactful,” shared Daryani.

EOK requests the people of Kolkata to come forward and join hands with us in their quest to raise funds & resources for increasing critical care Hospital Beds, arranging oxygen and ventilators. 

To Donate pls use the following Account No. Below or use the link

Account name: "R C Calcutta Visionaries Trust"

Union Bank of India, Strand Road Branch

Kolkata 700001

Account No: 301801010036822

IFSC Code:UBIN0530182

https://milaap.org/fundraisers/support-EOK-of-kolkata

Bengaluru-based Swiggy has incorporated a four-day work week during May, shared Girish Menon, Head HR at Swiggy over a mail to its employees on Saturday.

The move is aimed at supporting the physical and mental well-being of employees who may be dealing with sick relatives or friends.

Swiggy has also given employees an option to choose from on which four days they'd like to work.

“As a mark of respect for the efforts and the month that May can be with Covid cases escalating, we want to offer a four-day work week to all of you," added Menon in his mail.

The food delivery platform has also set up an emergency support team to help employees access ICUs and oxygen cylinders.

It is also offering a slew of other benefits to its employees, including salary advances, leave encashments, and access to loans. Employees whose family members test positive have access to self-quarantine facilities.

"Please decide the four days that each of you would work and utilise the extra day to take rest, take care of yourself, take care of your family and friends, added Menon by mentioning that they would also release the May salaries of Grade 1 to 6 employees early and employees in this category will receive a nutrition support payment if they or their family members test positive.

India’s iconic dairy brand, Keventers, in association with EduTennis, an initiative by the Amba Dalmia Foundation Trust is running a campaign to raise Rs. 1 crore to assist Delhi based hospitals and grassroot organizations with their efforts in providing critical care to COVID 19 patients.

Their key focus is around providing lifesaving sources of Oxygen for those in need in Delhi NCR. 

Their immediate goal is to provide both short term and long term solutions to the oxygen crisis in Delhi NCR by providing hospitals with oxygen concentrators and bi-paps that will help those in dire need. These are sources that will not run out and can help more people than oxygen cylinders.

“These are tough times and as citizens of India each one of us have a responsibility towards battling this crisis in our individual capacities. We as a brand have the right resources and connections that we want to utilize and optimize and set up a system wherein we can provide critical oxygen supplies to the hospitals. Each small contribution will help save lives, and we are hoping to reach our goal very soon,” shared Agastya Dalmia Director & Founder of Keventers and Managing Trustee of Amba Dalmia Foundation.

They are also raising money to purchase equipment to set up an oxygen generating facility in select hospitals. By having their own supply facility in-house, these hospitals will be able to reduce their dependence on external sources of oxygen supply. This has been done in consultation with the local authorities.

The campaign kickstarted on 26^th April and has managed to raise 35 Lac so far from over 100+ donors.

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Parent company of KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and The Habit Burger Grill restaurants, Yum Brands has announced that it will decrease its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 46% by 2030 in partnership with its franchisees, suppliers and producers as part of its broader strategy to address climate change.

Additionally, Yum! pledged to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. The science-based targets (SBTs) are consistent with reductions required to keep warming to 1.5°C and have been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative.

“Climate change is one of the top priorities of our Recipe for Good strategy, and we’re investing significantly in sustainable growth to address this issue by working closely with our brands, franchisees and suppliers,” said David Gibbs, Yum! Brands CEO.

Yum!’s climate change strategy will focus primarily on emission reductions at its more than 50,000 corporate and franchise restaurants and throughout its supply chain.

By 2030, Yum! will cut GHG emissions generated by its corporate restaurants and offices, defined as Scope 1 and 2, 46% below 2019 levels. Working alongside franchisees, suppliers and producers, defined as Scope 3 or its value chain, Yum! will also reduce emissions 46% below 2019 levels during that same timeframe on a per-restaurant basis for franchisees and a per-metric ton basis for beef, poultry, dairy and packaging.

“Building resilient and trusted brands is at the core of Yum!’s citizenship and sustainability strategy, and this includes the work we do around the sustainable stewardship of our planet,” added Jerilan Greene, Yum! global chief communications and public affairs officer and chairman and CEO of the Yum! Foundation.

Yum! set its first energy conservation goal in 2006, and since 2017 it has reduced its GHG emissions an estimated 18% on a per-restaurant average. Sustainable restaurant development has also been a key element of Yum!’s sustainability strategy, building its first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified green restaurant in 2009 and totaling 45 LEED-certified green restaurants globally to date. Key learnings and best practices from these restaurants have been implemented in thousands of locations around the world.

On the occasion of International Day of Person with Disabilities, McDonald’s India West and South has announced that it is launching a new packaging - EatQual, designed for its specially abled customers.

With this progressive and inclusive initiative, the company has once again reinforced its brand promise of making delicious feel-good moments easy for everyone.

Also Read: McDonald's- North, East partners with DotPe for contactless ordering

The EatQual pack has been developed over months of collaboration with an NGO that has been working towards the betterment of the specially-abled community for over 50 years.

Rahul Matthew, National Creative Director, DDB Mudra Group, India said “Equality and inclusivity isn’t always about the big things. It’s also about being able to do the little everyday things like everyone else can; eating your favourite McDonald’s burger, for instance. And that has been the guiding force behind the EatQual initiative. How can we make the McDonald’s experience just as enjoyable for all.”

Why Eatqual?

The new packaging innovation stems from the insight that the current packaging typically requires customers to use both their hands to truly enjoy the delicious McDonald’s burgers. This makes it difficult for those with upper-limb disabilities. EatQual will address this challenge and ensure that everyone can bite into their favourite burgers just as easily.

May Interest: Nagpur welcomes its first McDonald's restaurant

“It has always been our endeavor to make delicious feel-good moments easy for everyone. The launch of this EatQual packaging is a step to further our commitment towards inclusiveness and social responsibility. We hope that this packaging will make the McDonald’s experience easy and delightful for our specially-abled customers,” said Arvind RP, Director – Marketing & Communications, McDonald’s India (West and South).

EatQual will be available across all McDonald’s restaurants in West and South India starting mid-December.

Tata Starbucks proudly today announced the Tata Starbucks Empowering Girls and Young Women program, a new initiative to support girls and young women in India through education, skills development and economic empowerment.

As part of Tata Starbucks ongoing commitment to creating equal opportunities, the program will provide girls and young women with the education, financial assistance and community support they need to develop their skills and find careers.

Tata Starbucks will collaborate with non-profit organizations, Educate Girls, to improve girls’ education in rural and underprivileged areas, and VIDYA India, to provide volunteering and educational support to girls and young women who have relocated to urban cities from villages.

Also Read: Tata Starbucks creates more opportunities for women, opens All-Women Stores in India

“Throughout India, gender disparity remains a significant barrier to education – more than 4 million girls are out of school and we are still 15% away from closing the literacy gender gap between men and women. As a leading employer in India, we have a responsibility to invest in initiatives that advance education and skills development among girls and young women. We also continue to encourage diversity and gender equality in this dynamic region. It drives sustainable growth, elevates innovation through diverse thinking and deepens understanding of communities,” shared Navin Gurnaney, CEO, Tata Starbucks Private Limited.

May Interest: Starbucks joins Transform to Net Zero, focus on sustainability goals

In the first year of the program, the coffee chain will support 2,000 girls and young women across India, creating education, skills development and mentoring opportunities that will empower participants to create a better future for themselves and their communities.

Every Starbucks store across India will sponsor and support the education of a girl in primary school by covering the cost of enrolment, while improving learning outcomes and school retention rates.

In addition, the company will also donate a percentage of all transactions in the new all-women stores in India to helping mobilize communities around the importance of girls’ education through the partnership with Educate Girls.

Tata Starbucks partners can also volunteer to support girls aged 4 to 18-years old who have relocated to urban cities from villages. Through the VIDYA India collaboration, partners can help to conduct training for life skills, numeracy and literacy, and volunteer as teachers’ aides to make online classes more effective and engaging. Partners are also invited to participate in parental education awareness programs, designed to advance understanding and engagement around the importance of their children’s education.