Massive Impact: 10,000 Fed as Marriott Champions Mandela Day Hunger Fight

6,000 South Africans Receive Meals as Marriott Supports Mandela Day Hunger Initiative

Six thousand vulnerable South Africans will receive warm meals after Marriott International partnered with the non-profit organization Chefs with Compassion to cook 1,500 litres of soup as part of the national #67000litres Challenge on Mandela Day.

Observed annually on 18 July, the campaign honours Nelson Mandela’s 67 years of public service by encouraging chefs, volunteers, corporates, and communities to dedicate 67 minutes to tackling hunger and reducing food waste.

This year, volunteers from 14 Marriott hotels across various brands, including The Westin, Marriott Hotels, AC Hotels by Marriott, and Protea Hotels by Marriott, participated in the initiative. Each hotel team prepared soup within a 67-minute timeframe using surplus or rescued ingredients that would otherwise have gone to waste.

The meals are being distributed by Chefs with Compassion to non-profit organisations and community kitchens around the country, providing short-term relief through accessible, nutritious food.

“Hospitality is about service every day, but Mandela Day invites us to extend that service into the communities we work in,” said Johann Nortje, Chairperson of Marriott International’s Southern Africa Business Council.

“Collaborating with Chefs with Compassion helps us address food insecurity and food waste while honouring Madiba’s legacy.”

Chefs with Compassion reports that more than 10 million tonnes of food are wasted in South Africa each year, even as over 20 million people experience hunger. Now in its sixth year, the #67000litres Challenge aims to address both issues by turning surplus food into nourishing meals. Since 2020, the campaign has produced over 450,000 litres of soup and delivered more than 1.8 million servings nationwide.

“Feeding others is a meaningful act of service,” said Chef Coovashan Pillay, Founding Director of Chefs with Compassion and Food & Beverage Manager at Protea Hotel by Marriott Johannesburg Wanderers.

“Marriott’s involvement helps extend our reach to more communities.”

Chefs with Compassion is a volunteer-driven organisation that connects chefs, hospitality teams, and community groups to rescue usable food and deliver meals to those in need.