The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) has announced that Nestlé Professional has committed $1 million to support young people from all backgrounds who are pursuing a future in the restaurant, food service and hospitality industry.
NRAEF will use Nestlé’s contribution to enhance and grow its ProStart programme. ProStart is the leading US high-school culinary arts and restaurant management training programme with over 140,000 enrolled students and 1,700 participating schools. Nestlé Professional has a long history of helping young people acquire the necessary skills to be successful in the industry; and it has been a strong supporter of the Foundation and ProStart since 2017.
NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH
“We are thrilled to work with Nestlé Professional on training and mentoring young people who are passionate about our industry,” stated Rob Gifford, President of NRAEF. “As restaurants begin to reopen and the industry rebuilds, there will be new opportunities for our nation’s youth both in culinary and management. ProStart students leave high school well-trained and ready to work; or continue their education at any of the top secondary schools in the country.”
Laurent Freixe, CEO of Nestlé for the Americas and Founder of the Nestlé Needs YOUth programme, is highly enthusiastic about the Nestlé Professional and ProStart collaboration. “We want young people to become creative innovators, successful agripreneurs, entrepreneurs and game changers regardless of their field or level of expertise. The YOCUTA [Young Culinary Talents] programme can help prepare youth to find not just a job, but a rewarding lifelong profession with the potential for a successful career in the food services industry; and the opportunity to create their own business as well,” stated Freixe.
EMPOWERING YOUNG CULINARY TALENT
Prior to the pandemic, Nestlé Professional hosted 130 Ohio ProStart students at their headquarters in Solon, Ohio. Students connected with Nestlé Professional Chefs from around the world, learned about career pathways in the restaurant and foodservice industry; and explored hands-on culinary experience in the official Nestlé Professional Test Kitchen.
Image credit: Nestlé/NRAEF
“Our goal is to empower youth to gain access to employment through the food service industry,” explained Perry Miele, President of Nestlé Professional USA. “Our Young Culinary Talents Program is designed to address the specific needs of our industry. It’s not just about getting a job. It’s about helping students acquire the skills and knowledge to build a career.”
On Tuesday 30 March, Nestlé Professional and NRAEF will celebrate their new partnership by hosting a special training session for ProStart students; the first in a series of ‘Nestlé ProStart Pro Tips’ virtual events. Click here for more information on the ProStart programme.
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