Restaurants ask consumers to take it to go – again

A coalition of quick-service and fast-casual food chains are offering a sequel to “The Great American Takeout.”

For the second Tuesday in a row, a coalition of restaurants is asking Americans to support the struggling restaurant community by ordering at least one delivery or pick-up meal from any restaurant during The Great American Takeout on Tuesday, March 31.

Both Smithfield Foods and Ventura Foods are making charitable donations based on social media posts tagged with #TheGreatAmericanTakeout. For every social post tagged with #TheGreatAmericanTakeout, Smithfield Foods will make a $5 donation, up to $50,000, to CORE: Children of Restaurant Employees, a national nonprofit dedicated to assisting food and beverage service employees with children who are faced with a health crisis or natural disaster and in need of financial support. 

Additionally, Ventura Foods will donate $5 per post, up to $25,000, to the Restaurant Employee Relief Fund.  The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation created the fund to support U.S. restaurant workers financially impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, and to provide aid to restaurant employees nationwide.

The Great American Takeout movement began Tuesday, March 24 when a coalition of restaurants including Veggie Grill, The Habit Burger Grill, Blaze Pizza, Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill + Bar, El Torito, Chevys Fresh Mex, California Pizza Kitchen, Lazy Dog Cafe, Torchy’s Tacos, The Cheesecake Factory, Panera Bread, and Noodles & Company asked Americans to order at least one delivery or pick-up meal on March 24 to show support for the broader restaurant community nationwide.

The Great American Takeout has also received support from CPG companies, including from The Coca-Cola Company (KO) and PepsiCo (PEP), who joined the coalition.

During the first week of the Great American Takeout, consumers tagged more than 50,000 social media posts with #TheGreatAmericanTakeout, triggering an initial $100,000 donation from Smithfield Foods to CORE. According to an independent research study conducted by Lieberman New York Inc., 36% of Americans became aware of the six-day campaign.

“We’re honored to partner with the entire restaurant community and to participate in the Great American Takeout on Tuesday,” said John Cywinski, president of Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill + Bar. “We are truly grateful for our guests and neighbors all across the country who are showing up to support those who work tirelessly in our restaurants.”