How restaurants can build food recovery programs that last

Pizzerias have long been at the heart of their communities. They are gathering places where families celebrate, neighbors connect and local traditions take shape. But their role often extends well beyond the dining room. From supporting local causes and feeding first responders to helping neighbors in need, independent pizzerias and restaurant operators have a long history of showing up for the communities that support them.

Food recovery programs offer another opportunity to extend that spirit of generosity, turning surplus food into a meaningful resource for people experiencing food insecurity.

Restaurant leaders know that even with careful planning, some food inevitably goes unsold. That's where a well-run food recovery program can turn that surplus into a reliable source of support for the local community.

According to the USDA, more than 18 million American households are experiencing food insecurity, and yet more than a third of the nation's food supply ends up in landfills. Food recovery programs respond to this issue by creating an opportunity for restaurant teams to redirect surplus food to address hunger in the communities they serve.

By identifying opportunities to integrate food recovery into existing workflows and relying on the power of partnerships, operating a successful program is often less complicated than it seems. When food recovery becomes a natural part of everyday operations, restaurants are able to reduce waste while giving back to their communities.

The mutual benefits of a food recovery program

In addition to the positive social and environmental impacts, restaurants often see a return on their investment in these programs. Food recovery efforts can reduce waste management costs and improve visibility into surplus food, which can lead to more efficient ordering. Restaurantsalso receive enhanced tax deductions for eligible food donations to nonprofits.

Food recovery programs also help restaurants earn trust and respect. When restaurants give back to their neighbors, it encourages customers to view them as an integrated part of the community, rather than part of a chain. These programs are just as meaningful to employees, helping them feel a sense of purpose in their work.

But building a successful food recovery program takes more than good intentions; it requires clear processes, dependable partners, and a shared commitment to serving the community. Knowing this, restaurant leaders often assume that food recovery programs are more difficult to establish and manage than they truly are. However, working in tandem with a food donation operations partner eases the process and makes steps like identifying reliable nonprofit partners and integrating the program into daily operations less intimidating.

An operations partner acts as the backbone of the program, managing behind-the-scenes needs. They can help find reliable local partners, train restaurant general managers, simplify the tracking process, navigate food safety protocols, and more. They can also support planning for storage, packaging, and transportation needs. At the KFC Foundation, we rely on the support of Food Donation Connection to empower our food recovery efforts through the Harvest Food Donation Program, which has allowed KFC restaurants to donate more than 95 million meals to neighbors experiencing food insecurity.

Whether or not restaurant leaders work with an operations partner, they can make the program more accessible for their teams by building processes into existing workflows and leveraging technology. Employees can label, package, and record eligible donations alongside their regular responsibilities rather than carving out additional time for food recovery. Technology can reduce the time investment further by simplifying processes for inventory management and digital documentation.

Establishing sustainable local partnerships

A successful local partnership is not simply transactional; it drives forward a shared mission. The restaurant supplies food donations that the nonprofit relies on, and the nonprofit helps the food reach the community members who need it most.

Clear communication paves the way for productive partnerships. By establishing expectations early on and building trust, teams can ensure more consistency with pickup schedules and set a precedent of sharing regular updates to simplify the process. From there, they can work together to identify opportunities to ease the process on both ends and create a larger impact on the community.

The strongest partnerships extend beyond food recovery. In Massachusetts, for instance, a local KFC works with its nonprofit partner to hire new talent, supporting the restaurant's workforce development needs while creating job opportunities for students facing food insecurity. Opportunities like these emerge when partners communicate openly about the issues they are facing and collaborate with a willingness to explore creative solutions.

Food recovery programs are built on trust, communication, and partnerships that work for everyone involved. When restaurants and nonprofit organizations establish reliable systems and shared expectations, they can reduce food waste while creating a meaningful, lasting impact in the communities they serve.

Emma Horn is the Executive Director of the KFC Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting KFC restaurant employees and strengthening their communities through education, financial assistance and community giving programs. Under her leadership, the foundation has reached more than 18,000 individual recipients and supported more than 4,600 nonprofit organizations.