Dynamic Hospitality and World Food Program Launch ‘Eat & Feed' initiative in UAE to fight global hunger

Awareness campaigns and donations collections start as Al Aroud Group joins the war against hunger

September 11th, 2013, Dubai:  Dynamic Hospitality, the F&B investment arm of Al Aroud Group, in partnership with the World Food Program (WFP), has launched “Eat & Feed”, an initiative to combat global hunger. The scheme involves all companies operating under Dynamic Hospitality including its recently opened restaurants, Bennigan's, La Postreria, and Earthfruits Yogurt.

Through the participating restaurants and cafes, customers will have the option to add AED 1 or AED 2 to their bills, to be donated to the WFP. Also, the initiative will welcome all the F&B companies, restaurants and cafes in the UAE to participate.

Saleh Al Aroud, Chairman of Al Aroud Group, said: “The United Arab Emirates has always been and will always be leading the way in charity works, and we as businessmen have a very important role in supporting this vision. This initiative is a call for the society to participate in enhancing the lives of those facing hunger in poor countries. We are working to support the World Food Programme on many levels through our different companies, and we would like to invite all the F&B companies, restaurants and cafes operating in the UAE to participate as well.”

“The “Eat & Feed” Initiative will be followed by a road show and complimentary steps that involve awareness campaigns, activities, contests and school visits,” Al Aroud added.

Abdulwahab M Alroomi, Partner at Dynamic Hospitality said: “We have always believed that individuals, companies and society can collaborate to create a difference in the lives of those who are deprived. We are hoping that the initiative will create the needed awareness in a short time and collect the donations necessary to support the cause. The ‘Eat and Feed' initiative celebrates the traditions of hospitability, charity and generosity that the United Arab Emirates and the Arab world are known for.”

Al Aroud Group has a history of working with the WFP, and has supported a number of initiatives by the organisation. WFP strives to prevent hunger in the long term and build stronger, more food secure communities through integrated development programs that use food as a tool to boost education, employment, health care, women's empowerment, agriculture, environmental sustainability and local economies.

Ashraf Hamouda from WFP said: “Hunger is the ‘world's greatest solvable problem' and affects nearly 900 million people around the world, including in the Middle East. We can all do our part to eradicate it, ensuring that everyone gets the nutrition they need to lead a healthy and active life and fulfil their dreams.”

He adds: ”We are immensely grateful to Al Aroud Group and Dynamic Hospitality and all those who are fighting against hunger and who, through their donation and dedication, will make a tangible impact in the lives of thousands of men, women and children in need. We hope this initiative will encourage donations, and see success in the war against world hunger."

Statistics revealed last year showed that almost 870 million people in the world do not have enough to eat. 98% of those people live in developing countries with Asia and the Pacific having the largest share of the world's hungry people (around 563 million). In 2012, WFP reached more than 97 million people in 80 countries with food assistance. About 14,000 people work for the organization, most of them in remote areas, directly serving the hungry poor.