Marketing

Limited-services brands help GiftAMeal donate 1M meals

Provided

November 14, 2022

GiftAMeal, a St. Louis-based startup founded by Andrew Glantz that provides meals and groceries to local communities in need, has donated its 1 millionth meal, thanks to faster-than-expected adoption by fast casual and quick-service dining organizations.

Now available in 25 states at over 500 restaurant locations, GiftAMeal is a free mobile app that makes restaurant-funded meal donations for each photo posted by a customer. Guests may also share their photos on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to give additional meals (one meal for each platform selected).

Not only do restaurants receive uplifting promotion, but customers also get a free way to engage in an experience that helps their community, Glantz said in a company press release.

"With GiftAMeal, it's all about creating an easy win-win," he said. I'm a big believer in models that do well while doing good, and that profit and purpose can be consistent goals."

GiftAMeal has provided 1,132,241 meals to date, which totals over 1.4 million pounds of food across over 55 food banks in 25 states.

Spike Mendelsohn's PLNT Burger, one of GiftAMeal's newest restaurant partnerships, has two participating restaurants located in New York City.

"We at PLNT burger are proud and excited to be in partnership with GiftAMeal," Mendelsohn said in the release. "Their software enables us to do more of what we do best — serve delicious burgers, fries and shakes to the good people of NYC, while empowering our customers to be agents of positive change and doubling down on our mission of creating a more just, plentiful and compassionate food system.

"It's truly a win-win-win, guests enjoy a phenomenal meal with us and nourish those in need through simple social sharing, which provides valuable social capital to restaurants in need, building our community and uplifting all stakeholders. We are thrilled to be a part of GiftAMeal's tremendous accomplishment of 1 million meals donated and can't wait to continue spreading joy, democratizing food for all, and eating the change together."