Our teams’ commitment

At Novae, we are proud to have a global commitment to sustainable development on every front. At the heart of our vision are three fundamental pillars: taking care of our ecosystem, taking care of our talents and taking care of our guests.
Today, we would like to highlight one of the essential aspects of our commitment: our social and solidarity initiatives. We are convinced that social commitment is an integral part of our mission as a community catering company.

1-Taking care of our ecosystem

Supporting our local ecosystem: a responsible and meaningful commitment. We favour actions consistent with our activity in Switzerland, such as supporting agriculture, the fight against hunger, reducing food waste and professional integration through catering professions.

This also involves concrete initiatives aimed at strengthening our partnerships with agricultural stakeholders and preserving our natural resources. Our teams are actively involved in projects that promote sustainable and environmentally friendly agriculture.

Notable examples:

Work down on the farm: weeding and collecting waste on the plots of our partner producers in the cantons of Geneva, Vaud and Fribourg.

Social Enterprise for Prepared Organic Fruit and Vegetables: support for the first organic and non-standard fruit and vegetable processing workshop in French-speaking Switzerland, via our support fund for agricultural producers.

FoodSave Banquet: our Chefs have sublimated unsold food to offer a meal where our 150 guests fix their own price, while at the same time raising awareness on food waste, in partnership with the Food Waste association.

>> These initiatives strengthen the links between our agricultural partners and our teams, so redefining the concept of partnership.

2-Taking care of our talents

Our employees are drivers of change. This commitment is based on an employee volunteer programme offering one day per year dedicated to solidarity actions. We create opportunities that allow them to get involved concretely in causes related to our mission and that highlight their interests and professional skills.

Our employee volunteer programme:
Since the formalisation of our “Social Action Charter” in 2022, each employee can devote one working day per year, with the support of Novae, to a cause of general interest. There are several activities available; we offer among others:

  • Making solidarity soups for food banks
  • Helping our agricultural producers for their seasonal needs
  • Participating in solidarity meals for people in precarious situations or social isolation.

Notable examples:

Refettorio in Geneva: twice a year, our Chefs prepare meals for 80 people in serious difficulties.

Work exchange: hosting around ten migrant apprentices as part of their training to be a cook, allowing them to practise with professional equipment. Twice a year, they prepare and serve a meal for nearly 40 people, the profits of which are donated to the association.   

>> These commitments offer our teams the opportunity to develop, to come together around strong values ​​and to contribute to meaningful projects.

3-Taking care of our guests

Finally, all our social initiatives are ties and are often part of common objectives with our clients and guests. We particularly appreciate working closely with them to achieve several of these actions together.

Notable examples:

Solidarity soup: 5,000 litres of soup prepared and distributed in winter for food banks in the cantons of Vaud, Geneva, Valais and Fribourg, made by Novae employees and our volunteer guests in 2023/2024.

Aigues-Vertes Summer Festival and summer afterwork: active participation in the organisation and service during the summer events of the Fondation Village d’Aigues-Vertes, in collaboration with its residents. Our teams also mobilise for the Village and Christmas celebrations of the Foundation.

>> These initiatives illustrate our desire to create moments of sharing and solidarity, in line with our mission: nourishing both bodies and minds.

Together for a lasting impact

Every action matters! Whether you are a client, employee or partner, you are a key player in this social and sustainable ecosystem. Join us to continue building a more humane, supportive and responsible community catering.

Would you like to find out more or suggest new actions? Contact us!