ton christiaanse at ceo cook off

Brakes CEO Ton Christiaanse got stuck in at the CEO CookOff

Food industry bosses and top chefs from across the country have joined Jamie Oliver to help create a banquet from produce that would normally go to waste.

Around 60 CEOs and 30 chefs helped cook up a three-course meal for around 400 “unsung heroes” at the CEO CookOff event in the City of London on Tuesday.

Surplus food from supermarkets, restaurants and manufacturers was collected and turned into meals, which included roast rack of lamb, mozzarella salad, and ravioli filled with wild mushrooms.

The event, hosted by UKHarvest and the Jamie Oliver Food Foundation, highlights the problem of obesity, malnutrition and food waste, with all proceeds going to the two charities to improve food education in the UK.

Brakes CEO Ton Christiaanse helped to knock up a three-pickled beetroot salad for starters, and a main of halibut with clams and mussels.

“We’re in the food business so the issues that UKHarvest and the Jamie Oliver Food Foundation are tackling are very real to us,” said Christiaanse. “We have shared values and shared goals to fight these issues on every front.”

The inaugural event has so far raised £519,613 of a two-year £2m target.

“Nobody wants to see a child go hungry, or have children’s health and futures at risk because of poverty and, in particular, a lack of nutritious food,” added Christiaanse.

“And here at Brakes we believe that child poverty is everyone’s problem. Children are our future citizens, our workforce, our consumers and customers, and it’s in all our interests to give children the right start in life so that they are able to meaningfully contribute to society.”