Shivant Jhagroe
Raad van Toezicht (voorzitter)
ABOUT US
Public Food is a food justice organization.
We see food justice as the fight for public interests over commercial interests.
Action Agency
On the one hand, we do this as an action agency that puts the case for food as a public service on the social and political agenda. For example, through campaigns, by connecting residents, doctors, farmers and scientists and farmers to our mission, and through a think tank public food sector.
Developer
On the other hand, we are a non-profit social enterprise that puts this plea directly into practice. Under the name Mensa Mensa, we have been running a public service for food in Rotterdam since 2023.
How it all began
Public Food was born in 2021 out of indignation about the way our current food system works. After all, why is food a commodity in the first place? Why is most of our food produced by companies whose main goal is to make a profit? If good food is the basis for a better life, why isn’t food a basic public service? Since February 2023, we have been a foundation.
2022 – De Volkskantine
In 2022 in Almere, in cooperation with food knowledge institute Flevo Campus, we set up a Mensa Mensa pilot, under the name Volkskantine.
For a year, the Volkskantine ran in the center of Almere, between the Burger King and KFC, as a city restaurant where residents could put together an organic meal and plantbased meal for snack bar prices.
Team
Public Food is a non-profit foundation.
Femke Mosch
Raad van Toezicht (penningmeester)
Meredith Overman
Raad van toezicht (secretaris)
Esther Matze
Co-directeur
Floris Visser
Co-directeur
Mehtap Garigoplu
Keuken
Nadja Polman
Keuken
Robin Koek
Zakelijk leider
Latiefa Al-Sebaey
Chef Marketing en Communicatie
Stichting Public Food
Hillevliet 90
3074KD Rotterdam
RSIN 864964560
Statutory objective
The aim of the Foundation is to promote a society-wide change to healthy and sustainable food, as well as anything related or conducive to the above in the broadest sense.
Compensation Policy
Public Food is a non-profit foundation with a Supervisory Board, its role is to set policy, ensure the mission of the foundation and oversee the board. The Supervisory Board is unpaid. The daily management is in the hands of 2 director-board members. The directors receive a compensation for these activities.
How is Public Food funded?
A portion of the foundation’s income comes from grants. A portion comes from Mensa Mensa’s own income, earned from the sale of meals in the canteen and participants’ own contributions to Mealprep. Canteen and Mealprep revenues are lower than costs. We also have our own income from catering for companies, giving lectures and presentations, workshops to schools, for example. These revenues are higher than the costs. The profit from this is used entirely for the social mission and activities of the foundation. For the apprenticeship program, the foundation receives an annual fee for guiding participants. We also receive donations from individuals and companies.
How is the money spent?
Most of the costs are personnel costs. The organization has a size of 6 fte. In addition to paid staff, Public Food works with several volunteers, about 1 fte over the year. In addition, there are housing costs, marketing and communication budget, and purchase of ingredients for the meals. Part of this is produced with residual streams we receive free of charge (at delivery cost), part is purchased from local farmers and suppliers.
How are funds managed?
Public Food Foundation has no assets. A positive result is recorded as a continuity reserve for subsequent years. Article 13.3 of the bylaws states that when the decision to dissolve is taken, the destination of the liquidation balance will be determined, and that it will benefit an ANBI with a similar objective as the Public Food Foundation.
The 2024 annual report (in Dutch) can be downloaded here.
You can download the 2024 ANBI form (in Dutch) here.
The 2023 financial statements (in Dutch) can be downloaded here.