Beyond procurement: Reach your corporate social responsibility goals

Your business goals include more than just saving money. You’re looking to lessen your environmental impact and support more diverse suppliers. Plus so much more.

You’re not the only one. At Entegra, we know that corporate social responsibility is no longer a nice-to-have — it’s part of what defines success for any business. Tapping into Entegra’s Vice President of Business Performance Tracey Ranallo, we discuss how CSR’s role has grown in the hospitality space.

Q: You’ve been with Entegra for 22 years. How important has corporate responsibility become in the hospitality industry?

TR: It’s becoming more and more critical every day. I see our industry making progress with responsibilities focusing on individuals, communities and the environment. We’re fostering change and making a collective impact with commitments and goals that truly make a difference.

Let’s look at plant-based eating, for example. Recent data predictions see plant-based proteins growing nearly 35% on menus by the end of 2022^[1], and roughly 69% of consumers would at least occasionally order a plant-based dish.^[2] With protein alternatives making inroads and poised for growth, our industry is embracing the trend and adding innovative menu options to foster its popularity.

Another critical practice is effectively reducing food waste by lower greenhouse gas emissions and reducing single-use plastics. In the U.S., 30% to 40% of all food goes uneaten and contributes to 85% of greenhouse gas emissions from landfill food waste, annually costing an estimated $218 billion^.[3]

Q: How are operators adapting to meet CSR and stakeholder expectations?

TR: Operators are looking at ways to impact their operational and organizational commitments to CSR. For example, sustainable waste prevention for the foodservice industry can be supported by Leanpath, enabling commercial kitchens to fight food waste with efficient and innovative solutions. Additionally, Entegra’s Performance Kitchen can help with the development of plant-based recipes and menu concepts.

Q: What has Entegra been doing to support clients with increasing CSR objectives?

TR: Our supplier partners have many resources to support our client’s diverse CSR objectives. We work to connect them to a sustainable supply chain while implementing environmentally friendly methods with a diverse portfolio — nationally and regionally.

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You can learn more about the various aspects of the Entegra program designed to help operators like you meet your CSR goals.

CSR with Entegra

^{Sources
[1] Technomic Data Invite, Nation's Restaurant News, Feb. 2021
[2] The Food Institute, April 27, 2022
[3] EPA, Dec. 2021}