Rethink Food Acquires Wellfare, Expanding Food Access for New York Communities
New York, NY— October 22, 2024 — Rethink Food, a leading nonprofit dedicated to creating a more sustainable and equitable food system, is excited to announce its acquisition of Wellfare, a nonprofit that partners with food and beverage brands to deliver premium groceries to families in need. This strategic move strengthens Rethink Food’s mission to address food insecurity by combining the expertise and resources of both organizations.
Wellfare, founded in 2020, is a nonprofit organization that partners with leading better-for-you food and beverage brands to deliver donated premium groceries to families in need across New York City through innovative programming and a large volunteer corps. The acquisition allows Rethink Food to streamline operations, reducing warehousing and administrative costs while increasing its reach and impact in food-insecure communities.
Key highlights of the acquisition include:
Expanded Reach: The combined organization will enhance its ability to serve food-insecure communities by reducing redundancy and maximizing resources.
Increased Efficiency: Streamlining operations between both organizations will enable more efficient food distribution and waste reduction across the food system.
Leadership Collaboration: Cole Riley, Founder and CEO of Wellfare, will join Rethink Food as Director of Corporate Partnerships, bringing extensive experience in food access and relief efforts.
“We are thrilled to welcome Cole Riley and the Wellfare team into the Rethink Food family,” said Matt Jozwiak, founder and CEO of Rethink Food. “Together, we can deliver even more nutritious meals to the communities we serve while driving long-term solutions to food insecurity and food waste. This partnership marks a new chapter in our efforts to create a more sustainable and equitable food system.”
Riley, who led one of New York City’s largest private COVID-19 relief efforts, Founders Give, will play a key role in strengthening Rethink Food’s corporate partnerships and expanding its impact.
“We’re excited to join Rethink Food and to elevate our strong partnerships, extensive volunteer network and appetite for innovation to another level,” said Riley. “This move marks the perfect evolution of our work, and together we can make an even greater impact on food-insecure communities.”
About Rethink Food
Rethink Food is a New York City-based nonprofit committed to creating a more sustainable and equitable food system. Through strategic partnerships with local restaurants, food businesses, community organizations, and food donors, Rethink Food has delivered over 28 million meals to communities facing food insecurity, directed more than $111 million to small local businesses, and repurposed over 2.5 million pounds of excess food since its founding in 2017. To learn more, visit rethinkfood.org and follow @rethinkfood on Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, Facebook, Linkedin, and Threads.
About Wellfare
Wellfare is a nonprofit organization based in New York City on a mission to make nutritious food more accessible for all. Founded by Cole Riley in 2020, Wellfare has distributed to food-insecure communities over $6.7M worth of premium and nutritious groceries like low-sugar beverages, functional bars, and high-fiber snacks donated from the best natural food brands in the country. Riley has been recognized as a 40 Under 40 Rising Star by Hunter College’s NYC Food Policy Center and currently sits as a director on the boards of Naturally New York and NYCVOAD. To learn more, visit wellfare.org.
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