OUR STORY
2015
2015
The Vision Takes Root
After moving to New York City in 2015 to work as a station chef at Eleven Madison Park, he realized the enormous potential to address food insecurity by bridging the gap between unused food and those in need.
Rethink Food's journey began with our founder, Matt Jozwiak, whose life has been rooted in the food industry. From washing dishes in Kansas to honing his craft under Pierre Orsi in Lyon, France, Matt worked in renowned kitchens worldwide, including Auberge de L’ile Barbe in Lyon and Noma in Copenhagen.
2017
2017
Launching Rethink Food
Determined to turn his vision into reality, Matt saved money as a private chef and officially launched Rethink Food in October, thanks to foundational support from key collaborators. Working from a shared kitchen, Rethink Food began collecting excess food from Eleven Madison Park, NoMad and other restaurants, developing operational systems to transform surplus food into meals for local communities, and laying the groundwork for its mission to create a more sustainable and equitable food system.
2018
2018
Scaling Operations
With significant financial contributions from early supporters, Rethink Food scaled its operations, expanded delivery routes, and partnered with additional donors. A growing operations team and new infrastructure, including trucks, enabled the organization to further its impact.
2019
2019
Building Momentum
By year’s end, Rethink Food had grown into a $1.6 million organization, partnered with 25 food donors, and distributed 250,000 meals through 12 community-based organizations (CBOs).
Rethink Food hosted its first gala at Eleven Madison Park in April, raising critical funds to scale its efforts. By mid-year, Matt transitioned to working at Rethink Food full-time, focusing on developing a food certification program to help businesses donate excess food safely and sustainably.
2020
2020
Responding to Crisis
The pandemic brought dual crises—rising food insecurity and widespread restaurant closures. Partnering with Eleven Madison Park and Chef Daniel Humm, Rethink Food launched the Rethink Certified program to empower restaurants and small businesses to prepare nourishing meals for local communities while supporting their operations.
Over 2.4 million meals were distributed in collaboration with 60 restaurant partners and 119 community organizations. Chef Daniel Humm officially became Rethink Food's co-founder during this transformative year.
2021
2021
Partnerships for Change
We expanded our work to Miami, where 10.4% of Miami-Dade County residents experience food insecurity, by partnering with The Genuine Hospitality Group, led by Chef Michael Schwartz and CEO Sunil Bhatt, to create a sustainable, community-driven solution. Since November 2021, a 2% opt-out donation at Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink and Amara at Paraiso has allowed diners to support food-insecure communities. Funds raised go to small, local businesses—including Cecibon, Pack Supermarket, and Le Jardin—to prepare nutritious meals as part of their daily operations.
We partnered with Brookfield Properties to launch the first-ever Rethink Certified Campus at Manhattan West, New York City’s newest dining and cultural hub. This groundbreaking initiative united a community of restaurants and food purveyors committed to donating their excess food to Rethink Food, which was then transformed into nutritious meals for local communities.
2022
2022
Advancing Solution
Additionally, we partnered with City Harvest for the New York State Restaurant Resiliency Program, which allocated $25 million to state food banks, and we helped direct $1 million to 19 local restaurants to provide nearly 50,000 meals.
We participated in the historic White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, making a bold five-year commitment alongside the CDC Foundation to create lasting change in the food system. We also hosted a roundtable discussion at restaurant partner Manna’s in Harlem with Representative Jim McGovern and leaders from the food, government, non-profit, and academic sectors to highlight the impact of Rethink Food’s programs and explore new approaches for addressing food insecurity on a national scale.
2023
2023
Milestones and Expanded Impact
We celebrated providing 10 million meals with the creation of “Rethink Food Day,” proclaimed by NYC Mayor Eric Adams. We also collaborated with the City of New York and NYC Health + Hospitals to provide culturally sensitive meals to asylum seekers through our network of local restaurant partners. Collaborating with NYC Health + Hospitals, Rethink Food supported asylum seekers with culturally sensitive meals. In December, CEO Matt Jozwiak and restaurant partners testified at the NYC Council Oversight Hearing, advocating for the role of small businesses in addressing food insecurity.
2024
2024
A Year of Milestones and Growth
This year marked the opening of our new Sustainable Community Kitchen and dining room in Greenwich Village, New York, hosting nearly 70 events and engaging over 2,000 guests since its launch in March.
In Miami, our ongoing partnership with The Genuine Hospitality Group reached a transformative $1 million milestone, enabling over 212,000 meals for food-insecure families and showcasing the power of collaboration and shared purpose.
Closing the year, we celebrated the distribution of 30 million meals since our founding in 2017. This incredible achievement reflects the dedication of our restaurant partners, community-based organizations, and supporters working together to create a more sustainable and equitable food system.
