- In 2023, Gourmet Catering & Eventos launched an innovative donation management system in collaboration with the startup Naria.
- Coinciding with the International Day of Zero Waste, the company presents the results of the project.
More than 7,200 kg of food donated to people at risk of social exclusion through the Valencia Food Bank. This represents a total of over 17,200 meals and a saving of more than 18,100 kg of CO₂. These are the overall figures for surplus food donations made by Gourmet Catering & Eventos in the province of Valencia, managed through NARIA. This platform uses blockchain technology to ensure transparency and traceability of donations, also allowing for their certification.
Launched in 2023, this is a pioneering initiative in the national catering sector that addresses social issues and anticipates the publication of the new Law on the Prevention of Food Loss and Waste, approved on March 20th.
“In Spain, nearly 10% of the population faces food insecurity while a third of all food produced ends up being wasted,” NARIA reminds us. “Actions like this demonstrate that innovation and social responsibility can go hand in hand to transform the food system.”
Following its successful implementation at Gourmet Catering & Eventos venues in Valencia, the initiative will also be rolled out at the Víctor Villegas Auditorium and Conference Centre in Murcia, where the company is the exclusive gastronomic partner.
“At Gourmet Catering & Eventos, we serve more than 360,000 guests across more than 2,500 events at all our venues every year. We want—and need—to be a benchmark in surplus management and food waste prevention, firmly committing to food sustainability and supporting people at risk of exclusion. That’s why in 2023, in partnership with NARIA, we launched this system that connects all actors in the food chain with the social aid sector, enabling the donation of surplus food fit for human consumption with traceability, transparency, and safety,” explains Raquel Vicente, CEO of Gourmet Catering & Eventos.
Raising Awareness to Limit Waste
Food sustainability and waste prevention start with raising awareness of the importance of proper planning and efficient resource management—areas in which Gourmet Catering & Eventos has been implementing protocols for years.
“Despite this, every event generates an inevitable surplus,” the company states, adding that “thanks to our surplus management system, the donated food maintains high standards of quality and food safety, ensuring the meals delivered are balanced and nutritious. Because sustainability is not only about minimizing waste, but also about maximizing the positive impact of every saved food item—contributing to a fairer and more responsible food system in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” say sources from Gourmet Catering & Eventos.
With this initiative, Gourmet Catering & Eventos reaffirms its role as a leader in sustainable surplus food management in Valencia, promoting a strategy that not only reduces environmental impact but also supports a fairer, more balanced approach to food within the meetings and events sector.