TROY, OHIO—The Hobart Center for Foodservice Sustainability (HCFS), a nonprofit, industry-wide forum supporting the foodservice industry’s drive for sustainable equipment and design, is currently accepting applications for its annual $5,000 sustainability grant. The 2013 HCFS grant recipient was Duluth Grill in Duluth, Minn.
The grant, now in its seventh year, is awarded to the individual or organization judged to have the best-executed foodservice or grocery sustainability project of the year. Applications must be received by 5 p.m. ET on February 28, 2014, and the recipient will be announced in mid-April. The grant application form as well as rules and conditions are available for download at www.hcfsforum.com. Applications are judged by the HCFS Fellows and the recipient must use the grant to invest in additional sustainability efforts.
Organizations can apply for the grant by submitting a case study of 10 or fewer pages explaining how their program addresses one or more of the following foodservice sustainability challenges:
• How the operation reduced energy/water usage;
• How the operation reduced creation of wastewater or solid waste; and
• How the operation implemented Farm-to-Fork programs or other combined programs.
Use of Energy Star Equipment Encouraged
Applications must include a financial analysis of the program that addresses the cost of implementation, continuing costs, cumulative costs saved and return on investment. Descriptions of specific foodservice equipment used to achieve sustainability goals, including Energy Star qualified equipment, are also encouraged.
Duluth Grill in Duluth, Minn., received the 2013 HCFS grant in recognition of its sustainability program that includes implementing energy-saving and waste reduction measures as well as other steps to reduce its environmental footprint and transform its menu from pre-made franchise fare to a menu that is entirely built from scratch with fresh, organic and local ingredients.
To learn more about the HCFS grant and to download the official application, rules and conditions, visit the Hobart Center for Foodservice Sustainability at www.hcfsforum.com.
