OUR STORY

Hi, I'm Seema

I love to cook. In fact, many of my fondest memories revolve around sharing a good meal. But as much as food gives me joy, I’ve always been bothered by the number of people who go hungry and do not get to experience food the way that I do. I struggle to live in this world of feast or famine.

In 2016, I visited an NGO in India that provided paid training and fair, safe work to marginalized women. After meeting them and seeing them work so hard, I felt compelled to help in some way so that more women could have the same opportunity. At that point in time, I was not sure how I could be of service but I knew I could not go back to Canada and forget what I had seen.

Over the next couple of years, I noticed a significant increase in media coverage and articles discussing food insecurity. While the percentage of people experiencing hunger had been slowly declining, millions were still in need, and much more was required to address this issue effectively.

I was also struck by how the restaurant and hospitality industries had approached this problem. There was a strong emphasis within these sectors on reducing food waste and actively working to combat hunger. The foodie community, in particular, placed a high value on social responsibility and sustainability. However, I observed a disconnect where these values were not consistently reflected in the brands targeting this same demographic. Many brands seemed to prioritize profit over people and the planet.

This is when I started to connect the dots, and the idea of Cooks Who Feed was born. What if we started a kitchen linen brand that prioritized sustainability and had a give-back model, providing meals to those facing food insecurity? Cooks Who Feed launched its website and began selling aprons at the end of 2019. It is 100% owned by its founder, a minority woman.

I never set out to create a kitchen linen company. I set out to find a way to empower foodies everywhere to fight hunger in the most socially responsible way possible.