Representatives of Grupo Comidas (Yum! Brands Honduras) Eduardo Barahona (l) and Rene Turcios (c) present a symbolic cheque to WFP staff members Hetze Tosta, Nacer Benalleg and Claudia Laureano. (Copyright: WFP/Minerva Salinas)
Yum! Brands gave a special recognition to Grupo Comidas for making Honduras the country that has raised the largest amount of funds for WFP projects in the Latin America and Caribbean region through the "From Hunger to Hope" campaign, which is implemented by the franchise worldwide and every year among its customers and workers to help fight against hunger and undernutrition.
TEGUCIGALPA --"We've raised over US$252,000 for programmes and projects implemented by WFP in Honduras," says Rene Turcios, Marketing Manager of Grupo Comidas. "This represents over half of what Yum! Brands donates annually for each country and for this we have received international recognition," he says.
The donation of US$252,700 collected by executives, staff and customers of Pizza Hut and KFC restaurants in Honduras will support more than 3,500 people in the southern part of the country, where WFP´s Agroforestry and Adaptation to Climate Change Programme is implemented in the 45 poorest municipalities in the Dry Corridor (Choluteca, Valle, Francisco Morazán, El Paraiso and La Paz).
WFP Deputy Country Director, Nacer Benalleg, states that partnering with the Grupo Comidas, representative of the Yum! Brands franchise in Honduras, represents an important contribution and commitment of the private sector to the fight hunger and undernutrition.
"For four consecutive years Grupo Comidas has implemented locally the international campaign “From Hunger to Hope,” and thanks to the funds raised to date, more than 9,000 people have benefited from the different programmes and projects implemented by WFP in Honduras,” says Benalleg.
Meanwhile, Grupo Comidas Marketing Manager, Rene Turcios says that thanks to WFP's credibility and confidence among the people of Honduras has helped the campaign to reach and surpass its goals every year because Hondurans have witnessed WFP's great work in poor communities and families in need. "We who should thank WFP for allowing us to support them and help ensure the food security of thousands of people in need," says Turcios.
