Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 18 hours ago
The James Beard Impact Awards recognize achievements by individuals and/or organizations who are actively working to push for standards that create a more equitable, sustainable, and economically viable restaurant industry and food system for producers, workers, and consumers alike.
ReFED
ReFED is a nonprofit field catalyst building a movement to solve food waste and create a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive food system. Implementing the data-driven solutions ReFED has modeled has the potential to unlock nearly $60 billion in net financial benefit while diverting 20 million tons of food from going to waste every year. ReFED’s comprehensive Insights Engine helps restaurant and foodservice operators identify and solve their food waste footprint, not only improving the bottom line, but engaging and empowering staff, strengthening workplace culture, and allowing workers to participate in meaningful change. ReFED has helped unlock more than $35 million in follow-on funding for food waste solutions through efforts like the Catalytic Grant Fund—a pooled funding vehicle that has raised more than $7.5 million, including $1 million dedicated to restaurant solutions.
Learn more at jamesbeard.org
Additional image/footage credits:
iStock.com/Roman Mykhalchuki
iStock.com/MikeKoylo
The James Beard Impact Awards recognize achievements by individuals and/or organizations who are actively working to push for standards that create a more equitable, sustainable, and economically viable restaurant industry and food system for producers, workers, and consumers alike.
ReFED
ReFED is a nonprofit field catalyst building a movement to solve food waste and create a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive food system. Implementing the data-driven solutions ReFED has modeled has the potential to unlock nearly $60 billion in net financial benefit while diverting 20 million tons of food from going to waste every year. ReFED’s comprehensive Insights Engine helps restaurant and foodservice operators identify and solve their food waste footprint, not only improving the bottom line, but engaging and empowering staff, strengthening workplace culture, and allowing workers to participate in meaningful change. ReFED has helped unlock more than $35 million in follow-on funding for food waste solutions through efforts like the Catalytic Grant Fund—a pooled funding vehicle that has raised more than $7.5 million, including $1 million dedicated to restaurant solutions.
Learn more at jamesbeard.org
Additional image/footage credits:
iStock.com/Roman Mykhalchuki
iStock.com/MikeKoylo
