24 October
A decent conversation with Everybody Eats.
Everybody Eats, the charity initiative behind our epic Goodie Bowls and Boxes is a not-for-profit, pay-as-you-feel dining concept. They take food that would otherwise go to waste and turn it into restaurant quality meals, for anyone and everyone to enjoy. Meals are served by friendly volunteers, and customers pay what they can in return.
We chatted with Nick, the Founder and GM of Everybody Eats to talk about the inspiration behind the Goodie initiative, how the dining process works, and how people can get amongst it and show their support.
Hi Nick, can you tell our readers about Everybody Eats and what inspired the initiative?
Everybody Eats is a groundbreaking charity initiative dedicated to tackling food poverty, reducing food waste, and fostering social connection in Aotearoa. The idea came from research for my Masters dissertation when I studied Green Economics at Schumacher College in the UK. I visited and volunteered at around a dozen different charities and organisations that were trying to effect change in the food system. That was where I was first introduced to the vast amount of food humans waste.
We saw an opportunity to transform surplus food into delicious meals served in a restaurant setting where people pay what they can. Today, Everybody Eats is a community-led charity that promotes healthier and happier communities bringing people together from all walks of life, over a good hearty meal served in one of our three restaurants by our army of volunteers.
How does the process of dining in one of your restaurants work?
Dining at one of Everybody Eats' restaurants is a unique and inclusive experience designed to make everyone feel welcome. Here's how it works:
Ingredient Sourcing:
We partner with local food suppliers, supermarkets, and growers to source surplus ingredients that are perfectly good to eat but would otherwise go to waste. This includes fresh produce, dairy, and bakery items, ensuring that our meals are both delicious and sustainable.
Menus:
Our menus change daily based on the ingredients we receive, allowing our talented chefs to create diverse and mouth-watering dishes. Each meal typically consists of a starter, main course, and dessert, offering something for everyone's palate.
Payment:
At Everybody Eats, diners pay what they can. This means you can contribute as much or as little as you are able. If you're in a position to pay more, your contribution helps cover the cost of meals for those who may not be able to pay. This pay-as-you-feel model ensures that no one is turned away and everyone leaves satisfied.
Atmosphere:
Our restaurants are designed to provide a warm, welcoming environment where people from all walks of life can sit together, share a meal, and enjoy each other's company. Volunteers and staff work seamlessly to create a memorable dining experience, treating every guest with dignity and respect.
For those interested in dining in one of your restaurants, where can they find you?
Everybody Eats currently operates in several locations across New Zealand, with plans to expand further and pop-ups at different locations. You can visit us at the following permenent locations:
- Auckland:
-
Onehunga & Glen Innes: Sunday - Thursday 6-8pm
- Wellington:
- Wellington Central: Sunday-Wednesday 6-8pm
Our Goodie Box and Bowl collaboration was designed to help tackle food waste, food poverty, and social isolation in New Zealand, can you explain more about the conception of this idea and how restaurants around New Zealand can support it?
The Goodie Box and Bowl collaboration is an innovative initiative aimed at extending our mission beyond the dining table to reach more people across New Zealand. This idea was conceived to address three critical issues: food waste, food poverty, and social isolation. By creating a tangible product that people can take home, we're able to continue the fight against these challenges even outside of our restaurant settings. We consider ourselves to be a thought leader in this space and since we are very well connected to the hospitality industry it made perfect sense when our partners DDB pitched the idea to us. The idea actually won a bronze at the prestigious Canne advertising awards.
For businesses in New Zealand interested in stocking Goodie Boxes and Bowls, where can they sign up?
Businesses interested in joining our mission to combat food waste and support communities can sign up through at goodie.co.nz. Our team will reach out with more information and guide you through the onboarding process.
For direct inquiries or to discuss collaboration opportunities, please contact us at:
Interested in stocking the Goodie range?
