Non-profit kitchen trains clients to work in commercial foodservice
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Ecolab has selected Café Joshua, a non-profit kitchen in West Palm
Beach, Fla., as the second winner of its Clean Makeover Contest, which
invited foodservice operators to explain why they could use extra help
from Ecolab. Café Joshua will receive up to $25,000 of Ecolab equipment,
products and services to enhance the cleanliness and efficiency of its
operations.
Entries in the Ecolab Clean Makeover Contest ranged from humbling to
humorous, but all shared a common theme: a desire to maintain a high
degree of cleanliness under sometimes challenging conditions.
"From the hundreds of entries we received, Café Joshua's essay captured
our attention because of the organization's impact on the local
community," said Kevin Rowley, senior marketing manager, Ecolab
Institutional Foodservice. "The organization feeds the homeless, helps
clients develop life skills and prepares them for work in the
foodservice industry. Café Joshua also recently launched a corporate
catering business to help support their efforts."
Through Café Joshua's programs, students learn on-site food preparation
and kitchen operations, including food safety regulations and best
practices in kitchen sanitation. Over the past three years, the program
has successfully graduated 54 students. Many go on to work in catering
and foodservice careers in local restaurants and hotels, medical
centers, banquet and dining halls and school districts.
"We understand the importance of maintaining a clean kitchen
environment, and that's why Ecolab's expertise is so welcomed," said
Robert Coleman, director of Food Service at Café Joshua. "They provide
best-in-class food safety practices that will benefit our students, our
corporate catering business and our food programs for the homeless."
The Clean Makeover Contest prize package, valued at up to $25,000,
includes:
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An Ecolab rental dishmachine with innovative Apex2 technology
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Ecolab Pest Elimination service
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An Ecolab Cleaning Caddy for touch-free restroom cleaning
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Assorted cleaning products and tools for kitchen operations, including
detergents, sanitizers, floor and glass cleaners and hand care products
-
Ice Machine Smart CareSM Performance Check service
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Water filtration equipment for an ice machine and postmix beverages
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A food safety evaluation and coaching session
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A Prep-n-Print food labeling system
"Research shows how important cleanliness is to the success of
foodservice operations," explained Rowley. "Disciplined programs ensure
a consistent high level of cleanliness and safety. The Ecolab Clean
Makeover Contest is our way of helping Café Joshua build on their
existing programs for even greater impact and to emphasize to their
students the importance of cleanliness in the foodservice industry."
The other Clean Makeover Contest winner is The Foodbank of Monmouth and
Ocean Counties in Neptune, N.J. This organization was selected for the
impact its Culinary Training Kitchen program has on the local community.
It provides unemployed and under-employed adults the opportunity to
train for jobs in the foodservice industry.
Additional information on the contest, including images of the Ecolab
team presenting Café Joshua with the Clean Makeover Contest award, can
be found at: www.whycleanmatters.com/cleanmakeover/media.
About Café Joshua
Started in 1995, Café Joshua was a place
for homeless people in West Palm Beach to receive a hot,
restaurant-style meal. In 2000, the organization merged with The Lord's
Place, which provides comprehensive case management, job training and
supportive housing, as well as a thrift store. The merger allowed Café
Joshua to expand into a corporate catering business that brings revenues
back to the nonprofit. The agency serves an average of 560 homeless men,
women and children every month. For more information, visit www.thelordsplace.org.
About Ecolab
With 2011 pro forma sales of $11 billion and
more than 40,000 employees, Ecolab Inc. (NYSE: ECL) is the global leader
in water, hygiene and energy technologies and services that provide and
protect clean water, safe food, abundant energy and healthy
environments. Ecolab delivers comprehensive programs and services to the
food, energy, healthcare, industrial and hospitality markets in more
than 160 countries. For more Ecolab news and information, visit www.ecolab.com.
(ECL-P)
Ecolab Inc.
Roman Blahoski, 651-293-4385
MediaRelations@Ecolab.com
Source: Ecolab Inc.
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