The 2019 Eat Out Woolworths Sustainability Award entries are now open

Entries for the 2019 Eat Out Woolworths Sustainability Award, South Africa’s most prestigious accolade for restaurants contributing to more socially and environmentally responsible practices, are officially open. 

Introduced in 2016, the Eat Out Woolworths Sustainability Award acknowledges the restaurant that brings its customers seasonal, local and ethically sourced produce with minimal impact on the surrounding environment while also making positive social contributions.In the build-up to the awards, Eat Out is hosting two workshops designed to help interested restaurants on the journey to more sustainable practices. Speakers include industry experts on food waste, wine waste, plastic and more.

Dates are 18 June 2019 in Cape Town and 24 June 2019 in Johannesburg. Find out more on Eat Out.

“At Eat Out we believe an excellent meal need not – and should not – involve the unnecessary suffering of animals or the irresponsible use of resources. There’s a way to go still, but Eat Out is as much about supporting the restaurant industry and championing the move towards more ethical practices as it is about finding great places to eat,” says Adelle Horler, Editor in chief of New Media’s Owned Titles.

“This is the fourth year we’re honouring chefs and owners who are making the effort, and it’s heartening to see more and more restaurants making environmental and socially responsible practices a priority,” she adds. 

Says Feroz Koor, group head of sustainability at Woolworths Holdings: “We launched this award with the goal to raise awareness and acknowledge environmental and socially responsible sourcing in the restaurant industry, a practice that we strive for in our own business. 

Year on year we have seen significant progress in the quality of the entries which we believe is changing the landscape of South African dining.

”Candidates can find the entry form on the Eat Out website here. Entrants will be judged based on a strict set of criteria in three categories: responsible sourcing, community impact and environmental impact. Scores are allocated for the sourcing of meat, seafood and fresh produce; the design of menus; the impact of the restaurant on its surrounding communities; treatment of staff; use of resources like water and electricity; and efforts to recycle, among other measures. 

All criteria need to have been met for six months or longer in order for a restaurant to qualify for this award. The Werf Restaurant at Boschendal won last year’s award, in recognition of its commitment to implementing environmentally and socially responsible practices. Executive chef Christiaan Campbell was elated with the win, as Boschendal has long been committed to ethical farming and cooking with integrity – all of which aligned with the rigorous criteria for this award.

The winner of the 2019 Eat Out Woolworths Sustainability Award will be judged and selected by Pavitray Pillay of WWF-SASSI, Sonia Mountford of Eategrity and Karen Welter of the Longtable Project. The winner will be announced at the 2019 Eat Out Mercedes-Benz Restaurant Awards, which will be held in November.

Interested parties can download the entry form from the Eat Out website or email awards@eatout.co.za to request a form. The closing date for entries is 31 August 2019.