News

Restaurateurs, start your engines! It's Takeout Tuesday

Logo: Provided

March 31, 2020

The Great American Takeout is amping up the activity in its second consecutive week, by both asking Americans to order delivery or pickup "at least one" takeout or delivery item today, while also providing consumers a way to donate to restaurant workers and their families by tagging #TheGreatAmericanTakeout on social media, according to a news release. 

The contributory angle on this week's push was made possible by Smithfield Foods and Ventura Foods, which are making charitable donations based on each post tagged appropriately. Smithfield will donate $5 (up to $50,000) for each post to the national nonprofit, Core: Children of Restaurant Employees, which helps such youngsters when they face a health crisis or natural disaster. 

Ventura Foods will donate $5 per post, up to $25,000, to the National Restaurant Association Education Association's Restaurant Employee Relief Fund that helps U.S. restaurant workers financially impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.

The Great American Takeout movement began last week when brands like Blaze Pizza, California Pizza Kitchen and Torchy's Tacos joined to request Americans order pickup or delivery on March 24. As a result, with more than 50,000 social media posts tagged #TheGreatAmericanTakeout, triggering an initial $100,000 donation from Smithfield Foods to Core. Additionally, a research study by Lieberman New York Inc, showed that 36% of Americans actually became aware of the campaign.