The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill, a leading Mediterranean fast-casual franchise, has made GiftAMeal its national philanthropic partner, expanding a program that turns guest photos into food bank donations. After piloting the initiative with 10 locations in July 2024, the chain now offers GiftAMeal in over 70 locations across the United States, excluding certain markets such as Las Vegas Valley locations and cloud kitchens.
Since the partnership began, guests have helped provide more than 20,000 meals to families facing food insecurity by using the GiftAMeal platform. For every photo taken, GiftAMeal donates to a trusted local food bank, delivering 1.2 pounds of groceries through neighborhood pantries. The program is designed to integrate community service into the guest experience, allowing diners to contribute simply by scanning a QR code and taking a photo of their meal.
Bob Andersen, President of The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill, emphasized the alignment with the brand's mission. "GiftAMeal allows our franchise operators to live our brand mission by translating local commitment into real community impact," he said. "Across our system, guests can enjoy a great meal while helping deliver groceries through neighborhood pantries, making serving the community an integrated part of our franchise model and everyday guest experience."
To mark Random Acts of Kindness Day on February 17, the chain is inviting guests to participate throughout the month. At the end of February, The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill will match the monetary value of the total number of meals donated, as established by each food bank, effectively doubling the contribution. Guests can participate by scanning the GiftAMeal QR code in-store, taking a photo of their food or drink to trigger an automatic donation, and optionally sharing on social media to multiply the impact—shares can double, triple, or even quadruple donations.
Andrew Glantz, Founder and CEO of GiftAMeal, expressed enthusiasm for the expanded partnership. "The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill has quickly become a valued national partner in our mission to support families facing hunger," he said. "More than 20,000 meals have already been donated through their guests' participation, and we're excited to expand our impact together as we head into our third year of partnership."
GiftAMeal is used by over 1,000 restaurants nationwide and has provided more than 2.8 million meals to date. The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill's adoption of the platform underscores a growing trend among restaurants to incorporate cause-marketing into their operations. For more information on locations, visit thegreatgreekgrill.com/locations. Follow the brand on Instagram at @greatgreekgrill for updates on the final donation amount.
