#GoodNews: Unsold Meals at Delhi, Mumbai Airports Feed Hungry Kids

‘Hunger Heros’ of Feeding India. (Image used for representational purposes).

(Photo Courtesy: Feeding India)

Travel Food Services (TFS), a company that runs 70 restaurants, lounges and food and beverage outlets at Mumbai and Delhi airports, has tied up with NGO Feeding India to donate its unsold food from the two airports to the “hunger centres” of these cities.

About 200 sandwiches, 100 rolls, and some 50 soft drinks are stored in glass chillers at cappuccino outlets near boarding gates. If an aircraft is grounded and the flight delayed, the sandwiches are consumed quickly. But if a flight has been cancelled in advance and passengers don't show up, there are fewer takers for the morning grub.

The initiative began in Mumbai in October last year and in Delhi in January.

“We plan to expand the tie-up with Feeding India to airports in Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata and Goa this year,” said Gaurav Dewan, COO and business head, TFS while speaking to The Times of India.

He added that the company donates between 2,000 to 3,000 meals per month from these two airports.

Dewan said that since there is no set pattern to flight delays and cancellations, they end up with extra meals every day.

After the food is tested and collected from airports, the NGO matches and puts together a balanced meal with curry, vegetable, rice, roti, one beverage and, on some days, desserts.

“Before we pick up the food, we ensure it is fresh and unused. There are certain quality checks like pH value that we take into consideration. Also, the beneficiary must be located within a radius of 5 km so that transportation time is shorter and the food is consumed within 90 minutes,” Ankit Katwara, founder of Feeding India told The Times of India.