Bringing peopleand food together
Food is something we need to thrive and not just for nourishment.
When people come together for celebration or for comfort food plays a big part. That’s why we want you to join us in keeping food where it belongs – in our mouths, bellies and memories. And out of the places where food waste can make problems for us, both today and further down the track.
Our Mission
The Restaurant Association’s mission is to be the bridge between good food and good business so that restaurants or cafes businesses can become great. We’re passionate about our vibrant industry, which is full of interesting, talented and entrepreneurial people…people just like you.
Edge Impact is a full-service global impact consultancy combining science, strategy and storytelling in partnership with motivated leaders, organisations and industries to reimagine sustainability for positive impact.
Our Kai Keeper Goals
Our commitment to assist Aotearoa’s cafes and restaurants address their food waste is drive by the following Kai Keepers goals:
- Contribute towards reducing food waste by 10% from the hospitality sector.
- Contribute towards increasing our knowledge and understanding of the quantity and causes of food waste in New Zealand.
- Contribute towards increasing our knowledge and understanding of the effectiveness of different interventions to reduce food waste.
Meet the Project Lead Team
Nicola Waldren
General Manager, Restaurant Association
Nicola has over 20 years experience working in leadership, strategy and people management roles in the not-for-profit sector. She has extensive project-management experience and has been involved in co-designing industry programs and working with Government agencies, including MBIE, DPMC, WorkSafe and MPI.
Paula Saldias
Managing Consultant, Edge Impact
Paula is an experienced sustainability advisor with over ten years of practice across Chile and Australia, having led strategic initiatives in materiality, circular economy and sustainability integration. She has extensive experience across hospitality, real estate, retail and technology sectors, helping organisations embed sustainability into their core business operations.
Kai Keepers Steerco
- RA Steerco representative: Marisa Bidois, CEO RA
- Edge Steerco representative: Christian Keel, Business Unit Lead, Circular Economy and Lifecycle Thinking. Reports to Edge Impact CEO
- MFE Steerco representative: Elizabeth Nichols, Ministry for the Environment | Manatu Mo Te Taiao