We recently spoke to Steven Marks, Founder and Co-CEO at Guzman y Gomez, to find out more about their mission for a healthier world.
1. Hi Steven, can you tell us a little bit about Guzman y Gomez?
Founded in Australia, GYG’s mission is to reinvent fast food and change the way the masses eat. GYG’s Hola Central head office and corporate restaurants employ over 4,000 people.
2. What was it about our work that piqued your interest?
We love that The Hunger Project’s Eat Well program in Mexico is working with women and communities to promote eating traditional and nutritious food. This approach to fighting hunger and malnutrition through innovative food programs is based on real insights and driving genuine impact, which feels powerful. GYG is proud to support the Eat Well Program that funds education and engagement with Indigenous families around locally grown, traditional, seasonal food. More than simply providing ingredients, the program invites the participants to learn skills in farming, compost and cooking to create lasting change.
3. How do GYG and THP’s values align?
At GYG we feel strongly that everyone should have access to healthy food. With over 673 million people living in hunger globally, there is a huge job to be done to increase awareness, funding and education around food, to end hunger and poverty. The work that The Hunger Project is doing to empower communities around the world through nutrition, education and farming programs is well aligned to our commitment to improving the way the world eats and creating generational change to serve children, women and communities.
4. Why does GYG place value on embedding purpose into your business model?
At GYG, purpose isn’t an add-on – it’s the foundation of everything we do. From day one, we’ve believed in the power of real food to create real change. Fast food doesn’t have to mean bad food, and that’s why we prepare fresh, clean meals daily as part of our mission to reinvent fast food and change the way the masses eat.
5. What does your partnership with The Hunger Project mean to the organisation?
GYG sincerely values the partnership with The Hunger Project as it allows our people and company to give back to the people of Mexico – a country that has provided so much inspiration for the food and culture of GYG. With 1 in 4 indigenous children in Mexico suffering from chronic malnutrition, the need is greater than ever to take action.
6. What advice would you give to other corporations who are considering giving back through a partnership?
Developing long-term, meaningful partnerships with community organisations like The Hunger Project is a fantastic way to make a positive impact outside of regular business activities. It also helps to inspire kindness that encourages everyone to make a positive difference in the world beyond their day-to-day routines.