Compass Group Celebrates the “Chefs Who Inspire Us” Worldwide

Charlotte, N.C. (September 10, 2021) This Sunday, Compass Group, the global leader in food and support services, will kick off the world’s largest culinary celebration: Chef Appreciation Week, which runs from September 12-18. Observed in more than 30 countries worldwide, Chef Appreciation Week brings together diners, colleagues and local communities to honor the people who commit their lives to feeding millions every day, and the power of food.

Hosted by Compass Group, this annual event is dedicated to great people like Restaurant Associates Chef Sidney Wilcox who uses the Teaching Kitchen as a platform to capture the taste of cultures, preserve its traditions and honor the ingredients of those lands; Thompson Hospitality Chef Kamal Rose who uses the plate as his canvas to paint a story of history, demographics, texture and flavor; and Morrison Healthcare Chef Megan Herrmann who believes food speaks when words fail. Compass Group chefs create scratch-made meals in hospitals, Fortune 500 companies, schools and universities, museums and events, stadiums and arenas, and senior living communities across the United States and around the world.

“Compass relies on all the incredible people behind the experience. It’s been the most challenging year and a half we have ever seen. Our people quickly and effectively rallied to accomplish critical work when it mattered most. And we want to thank them for the incredible job they have done,” said Gary Green, CEO, Compass Group North America.

The mantra for this year’s campaign is: “Food unites us and chefs inspire us.” Compass believes that food is a powerful medium to create meaningful change. It elevates culture, nourishes and brings people together with love, celebration, empathy and hope.

Throughout the week Compass employees will come together, remotely or in-person, to celebrate the powerful impact that chefs and culinary teams make in our communities. Some of these activities, include:

• Chefs will post recipes from their personal cookbooks all week on Eat Live Do Well, along with the stories behind the food.
• Features on chefs, what inspires and motivates them will be shared on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn with #ChefAppreciationWeek.
• The kick off for the 2021 Women in Culinary Chef Challenge, a recognition and networking program that is part of Compass Group’s ongoing commitment to closing the gender gap in culinary.

“We have always believed that food connects people and communities. Now more than ever, food unites us to be stronger and chefs inspire us to be better,” said Rick Post, Chief Operating Officer, Compass Group USA.

From offices and universities to stadiums and hospitals, Compass chefs across America created a video message reflecting on this year’s theme and the many communities served. Watch the video above. Also, to connect its teams across nations, a global video was created featuring chefs from nearly 30 different countries passing a loaf of bread around the world. Watch the video to discover more about how Food Unites Us and Chefs Inspire Us.

“This Chef Appreciation Week, please join me by taking the time to say thank you and celebrate the wonderful contributions that chefs and culinary teams make day in day out, not just in our business, but around the world,” said Dominic Blakemore, Group CEO, Compass Group PLC.

About Chef Appreciation Week
In 2013, Donald and Lisa Crutch of the National Pink Tie Organization “Chefs Against Cancer” division, co-founded Chef Appreciation Week to honor and recognize all those serving in the culinary industry for their dedication, love of food and willingness to serve their community.  In 2018, Compass Group USA partnered with the Crutch family to celebrate Chef Appreciation Week in its cafes and restaurants nationally. When Donald Crutch passed away unexpectedly in 2019, Compass Group pledged to carry on his legacy with a commitment to launch a worldwide Chef Appreciation Week campaign, which is now celebrated across 30+ nations globally. 

About Compass Group North America
Compass Group is redefining the food and support services landscape with innovation and passion through the lens of what’s next. Serving premier healthcare systems, respected educational institutions, world-renowned cultural centers, popular sporting and entertainment venues, and Fortune 500 organizations the world over, Compass Group always finds a way to deliver excellence in nearly any vertical. Whether it’s serving school meals students love, high-end concessions in stadiums, or nourishing, home style meals for seniors, Compass is an industry leader. Ranked No. 1 by industry peers on Fortune’s 2020 list of World’s Most Admired Companies, Compass has also earned a spot on Forbes’ list of the Best Employers for Diversity in 2020 and is among the Top 50 Companies Changing the World according to Fortune. Learn more about the Compass experience at www.compass-usa.com.