Chick-fil-A introduced the Shared Table initiative in 2012 to foster meaningful connections between its restaurant operators and local soup kitchens, food shelters, and nonprofit organizations. Presently, nearly 2,000 domestic Chick-fil-A restaurants are actively participating in the program.
To take the initiative to the next level, the company is introducing a new digital cookbook called 'Extra Helpings: Inspiring Stories and Imaginative Recipes from Chick-fil-A’s Shared Table,' to achieve full participation from all its restaurants and divert 25 million pounds of food waste from landfills by the year 2025.
The novel cookbook contains 26 recipes creatively crafted from repurposed food sourced from Chick-fil-A restaurants in collaboration with local nonprofit partners.
"We have a responsibility to do this as a restaurant company. One hundred percent of counties in this country are dealing with food insecurity. We won’t be the ones who solve this, but our role is to be a part of the solution," said Brent Fielder, senior director of corporate social responsibility at Chick-fil-A.
Digital QSR-Backed Cookbooks
Chick-fil-A Unveils a Cookbook to Support its Shared Table Program
Trend Themes
1. Digital Cookbook Trend - The introduction of a new digital cookbook by Chick-fil-A is a clear indication of the rising trend of digital cookbooks in the food industry.
2. Food Waste Reduction Trend - Chick-fil-A's goal to divert 25 million pounds of food waste from landfills by 2025 highlights the growing trend of food waste reduction initiatives in the restaurant industry.
3. Collaborative Cooking Trend - The collaboration between Chick-fil-A restaurants and local nonprofit partners to create recipes for the digital cookbook exemplifies the emerging trend of collaborative cooking in the culinary world.
Industry Implications
1. Restaurant Industry - The introduction of a digital cookbook by Chick-fil-A presents disruptive innovation opportunities for the restaurant industry to further engage with customers through interactive and sustainable digital platforms.
2. Food and Beverage Industry - Chick-fil-A's commitment to reducing food waste through the digital cookbook opens up new avenues for disruptive innovation in the food and beverage industry, promoting sustainability and social responsibility.
3. Nonprofit Sector - The partnership between Chick-fil-A restaurants and local nonprofit partners in creating recipes for the digital cookbook highlights potential disruptive innovation opportunities for the nonprofit sector to collaborate with restaurants on food waste reduction initiatives and community engagement projects.