Rabobank teams up with Food Rescue Kitchen to help combat food waste

Agribusiness banking specialist Rabobank has announced it is partnering with Food Rescue Kitchen – a new TV series which airs this weekend that aims to shine a light on the real and growing issues of food waste, food poverty and social isolation in New Zealand.

The first episode of the new series airs this Saturday April 27 at 7pm on TV3/ ThreeNow. Each of the series six episodes features a top New Zealand chef creating a three-course meal for 50 diners using ingredients they receive on the day that were destined for landfill.

All of the chefs appearing in the series are passionate about food rescue and each provides insights on how to make the most of what you have, reduce food waste, save money, and to cook like a boss! Well-known chefs set to feature include Michael Van de Elzen from the Good for Scratch Cooking School in Muriwai and Peter Gordon from Papatuanuku Kokiri Marae in Mangere. 

Rabobank New Zealand CEO Todd Charteris said the partnership was a natural fit for Rabobank given the bank’s strong focus on reducing food waste.

L to R - Rabobank agribusiness manager Ross Neal, show host Naomi Toilalo and chef Michael Van de Elzen.

Rabobank New Zealand CEO Todd Charteris said the partnership was a natural fit for Rabobank given the bank’s strong focus on reducing food waste.

“Rabobank is a food and agri banking specialist operating in 36 countries around the world, and at a global level we’ve committed to being part of the solution to feeding a growing world population in a sustainable way,” he said.

“We know that food waste is a significant barrier to this goal as it not only deprives hungry families of nutritious food, but it also squanders the resources used to produce the food as well as increasing greenhouse gas emissions when wasted food goes to landfill.

“Over recent years, we’ve commissioned a regular food waste survey alongside our food rescue charity partner KiwiHarvest which has highlighted just how much food is wasted by New Zealand households and the key factors that drive this. And teaming up with this new

TV series is another way we can help educate Kiwis about how to reduce food waste.”

Mr Charteris said the show’s format would keep viewers entertained while, at the same time, raising their awareness of New Zealand’s food waste problem. 

“The chefs have just hours to pull together a meal from scratch, so their skills are really put to the test, and in the process they’re able to provide the audience with a bunch of practical tips on how to reduce the amount of food they are wasting at home,” he said.

“We’re hoping that the series will attract a big audience and that plenty of those who tune in will take some of the ideas from the show and incorporate these into what they are doing in their own kitchens.”

Mr Charteris said Rabobank employees feature in the episodes starring Michael Van de Elzen and Peter Gordon while several other staff were lucky enough to act as diners. 

“Everyone who attended was  incredibly impressed by what Michael and    Peter  were  able to whip up with the limited resources they had available ,” he said.

“And I’ve no doubt the series will help change viewers perceptions about what can be done with the food they have lying around in the fridge or pantry at home.” 

 

Rabobank agribusiness manager Tom Fleetwood helps with the table service during the episode featuring Michael Van de Elzen.

Rabobank New Zealand is a part of the global Rabobank Group, the world’s leading specialist in food and agribusiness banking. Rabobank has more than 120 years’ experience providing customized banking and finance solutions to businesses involved in all aspects of food and agribusiness. Rabobank is structured as a cooperative and operates in 38 countries, servicing the needs of about 8.6 million clients worldwide through a network of close to 1000 offices and branches. Rabobank New Zealand is one of the country's leading agricultural lenders and a significant provider of business and corporate banking and financial services to the New Zealand food and agribusiness sector. The bank has 27 offices throughout New Zealand.

 

Media contacts:

David Johnston
Marketing & Media Relations Manager
Rabobank New Zealand
Phone: 04 819 2711 or 027 477 8153
Email: david.johnston@rabobank.com


Denise Shaw
Head of Media Relations 
Rabobank Australia & New Zealand 
Phone: +612 8115 2744 or +61 2 439 603 525 
Email: denise.shaw@rabobank.com