Mexican-inspired fast-food franchise Zambrero has continued its socially conscious mission, taking to the streets in its biggest event ever. The annual Zambrero Plate 4 Plate day was held on World Food Day and saw franchisees, head office staff and the community come together to fight world hunger.

Thousands of volunteers and customers packed into iconic venues across Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Brisbane to pack meals for those in need.

Bianca Azzopardi, Zambrero CEO said the multi-city event is biggest day on the chain’s calendar and was a critical component in achieving the shared brand goal to end world hunger by 2030.

“Zambrero is passionate about driving awareness around the global hunger crisis, highlighting it as an issue that is both widespread and underestimated,” she said.

“Our Plate 4 Plate Day is held on World Food Day to encourage our customers to face poverty at a local level. This is an opportunity for Australians to consider who it is that will address short-term hunger if not those with the time and resources to do so.”

This year over 450,000 meals were packed in just three hours, before being sent to school feeding programs around the world. The programs not only provide valuable nutritional benefits, but also promote class attendance and give kids the energy to focus on their education.

Zambrero Plate 4 Plate initiative

While the annual Zambrero Plate 4 Plate Day brings the issue to the forefront, the event is merely the tip of the iceberg for the Aussie chain.

Separate to the event, Zambrero has donated over 33 million meals across 200 international restaurants in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and the US through its Plate 4 Plate initiative.

The year-round program sees Zambrero donate one meal for every burrito, bowl or retail product purchased to a person in need.

It’s been an enormous undertaking for the Mexican-inspired franchise, but one that has been carried throughout the operation. From the head office staff to the franchise partners, the theme is consistent.

“Our franchise partners are the most critical piece of the Plate 4 Plate initiative,” Azzopardi said. “Not only are they responsible for the teams who serve the burritos and bowls that result in our donations, but they are the ones advocating to our customers around the country about the Plate 4 Plate initiative and how they can make a difference.”

“In fact many of our franchise partners have chosen to be part of Zambrero because of the Plate 4 Plate initiative and what we stand for. All of our franchise partners are passionate about what we do both in terms of the product we sell through to the mission we are on – the response is actually overwhelming.”

Domestically, the Zambrero Plate 4 Plate initiative is backed by Foodbank, with international support provided by Rise Against Hunger.