In partnership with Woolworths, Infinity Culinary Training (ICT) has started serving around 1 000 nutritious meals per day to Cape Town’s most vulnerable communities. The meals are being made in Woolworths head office’s product development kitchen following strict social distancing and all lockdown regulations using Woolworths ingredients.

The meals include a mix of vegetarian and meat options including vegetable curry and chickpea dahl, chilli con carne as well as roast chicken with roasted vegetables.

“On hearing that ICT had obtained an essential services permit to provide cooked meals for the most vulnerable but couldn’t access their kitchen, as the building was closed for lockdown, we welcomed them into our kitchen at head office.  We are grateful to have the opportunity to help ICT feed thousands of vulnerable people here in Cape Town during this challenging time,” comments Spencer Sonn Managing Director Woolworths Foods.

Infinity Culinary Training is a non-profit chef school providing basic cooking skills, professional tools and life skills to graduates from disadvantaged backgrounds to obtain employment in the hospitality industry. Woolworths partnered with ICT five years ago to provide all the ingredients for their Chef School and when they outgrew their original facilities, the retailer stepped in and built them kitchens and training facilities above their Adderley St store – rent free. 

“Initially, the plan was to provide meals for one NGO in Philippi, but that quickly expanded to include two shelters in Athlone, a battered-women's shelter in Woodstock, and two informal settlements near the Bo Kaap.  This pushes our meal count to nearly 1 000 per day.  And this could only be possible through the great generosity of Woolies.  Together, we are determined to help as many people as we possibly can, "says Barry Berman, Executive Director Infinity Culinary Training