CSR in the Food Service Industry

It seems like its tough enough just making it in the food industry, what with the changing (fickle) taste of consumers, regulation, and a constant stream of new competitors, but a new entrant is promising to pay 1% of profits to local charities. CSR is often labeled by its detractors as a clever marketing gimmick and it's something we normally see in larger, more established industries (to be clear, I'm not saying small businesses don't give back to their communities - simply that what's most visible are the large companies that sponsor sports complexes, and the like).

I'll skip the cynicism for now and just say that this is perhaps another good reason for supporting the new food vendors that we've recently been discussing. So here is a bit about TaKorean, from their blog:

Having worked in outdoor specialty retail for over seven years, I was always inspired by Patagonia’s pledge to donate 1% of all sales to environmental causes around the globe. Patagonia started giving 1% for the planet in 1985, and since then businesses around the world have become involved. It was an easy decision for me to incorporate that same philosophy into DC Street Food, Inc. and TaKorean locally. Washington, DC is where I was born and raised, and along with delivering mouthwatering Korean BBQ tacos throughout the city, I’d like to do my part to better the community that has given so much to me throughout my life.

Each month we will blog about our chosen monthly charity in which we are donating 1% of our sales. Over the course of the year we will be able to give back to several different types of charitable organizations, fulfilling our goal of truly giving back to the local community. We at TaKorean believe that businesses have a responsibility to give back to the communities that give us the opportunity to serve them, and we are more than happy to do our part. Delicious food and a positive impact on our neighborhoods, our youth, our forests, our waterways, and our people is responsible business.

TaKorean is set to hit the streets August 30th.