The event marked the fifth anniversary of the European FOOD (Fighting Obesity through Offer and Demand) program in Romania

• Edenred and HORA join forces in the European FOOD Program to increase the availability of nutritionally balanced meals in restaurants and canteens, as well as to make nearby locations more accessible for employees to enjoy a healthy lunch during working hours.
• 97% of Romanian employees, who are users of meal cards, consider that healthy eating is a decisive factor for productivity and overall well-being.

Edenred, the leader in the Romanian market for fringe benefits, in partnership with HORA, a representative organization of the Romanian hospitality industry, organized today at the Palace of Parliament the first event of the year focusing on the importance of healthy eating habits and the impact they have on employee performance and well-being. Additionally, during the event, discussions were held about efforts, including those contributed by Edenred through the FOOD program, to improve the managerial capacity of school directors to attract funding for developing infrastructure for students' hot meals or to contributing to other aspects related to children's healthy eating - primarily enhancing the nutritional balance of meals and the need for menu created by professionals. Top of Form

The event also marked the fifth anniversary since FOOD, the largest European food education program, has been present in Romania. Alongside key representatives from public authorities (Chancellery of the Prime Minister, Ministry of Education, National Institute of Public Health, members of the two chambers of the Romanian Parliament) and business, the FOOD conference created a platform for debate and awareness on the positive impact that the collaborative partnership between the public and private environment has on Romanians' eating habits and in strengthening a robust national prevention cultures.

"Healthy eating is not just a trendy topic. According to the World Health Organization, employees who have balanced nutritional habits can be as much as 20% more productive. In fact, this belief is also reflected in the perception of Romanian employees, with almost 100% of respondends in the FOOD Barometer 2023 survey stating that healthy eating is a decisive factor for their general well-being. The recent period has come with new challenges for our lifestyle. Therefore, we aim to continue FOOD's mission to connect all relevant partners - government and business entities, restaurants or canteens, but also small local producers – and, together with HORA, we seek to develop a functional ecosystem that facilitates as many employees as possible the opportunity to easily access a healthy lunch, during working hours and as close to the office as possible”, said Ana Busuioc, Legal & Corporate Affairs Director, Edenred.

“Conscious eating is perhaps the greatest luxury of our times, unfortunately. In the rush of our lives, we often forget to take the time to truly enjoy our meals. For our well - being and  for our health. We often make inappropriate choices that are not the healthiest for our bodies. I applaud Edenred's initiative to promote a healthy lifestyle, and I am glad that we, through HORA organization, can contribute to educating and adopting a balanced approach to eating. Therefore, I encourage everyone enjoy every day their lunch break properly, and we look forward to welcoming you to our restaurants for an extra dose of good vibes” Radu Savopol, HORA  president and co-fondator 5 to go.

The conference brought, for the first time, in the public debate the results of the FOOD Barometer 2023, an extensive annual Edenred survey on food trends (of employees and restaurants), conducted in 19 countries, including Romania.

The study reveals a new global trend: in times of inflation, employees, more than ever, are paying close attention to healthy eating and want to eat better, even if it becomes burdensome for their budget. Thus, almost half of Romanian employees said they use 40% of their monthly income on food. In this context, the meal card is perceived as a powerful tool to secure the food budget, 8 out of 10 Romanian employees stating that meal vouchers increase their purchasing power, and 7 out of 10 respondents mentioning that they have, in this economic situation, a significant impact on reducing stress.

The FOOD Barometer reveals the growing preference of Romanian employees for the "healthy green plate" of food, characterized by a predominance of fresh products (95%) and vegetables (87%). There is a growing need of employees for balanced and healthy dishes (57%), which is mainly reflected by a higher demand for local (53%) or vegan (40%) products.

Romanian restaurants are making efforts to meet this consumer trend, despite the barriers they encounter in trying to improve their offerings and provide healthier products. 6 out of 10 restaurant representatives surveyed stated that preparing healthy dishes and recipes is more costly, although 5 out of 10 considered that this change generates sustainable sources of income. The main measures taken by restaurants are those related to switching suppliers with those offering healthier and locally sourced products (74%) and turning to organic products (63%).

The event at the Palace of Parliament ended with the Biggest Lunch Break. Edenred invited over 55,000 partners to take their teams out for lunch today to generate together – through the power of personal example (Lead by example) – the largest movement of the business environment in supporting the importance of lunch break and healthy meals.

FOOD (Fighting Obesity through Offer and Demand) is a public-private partnership model and the largest European program in promoting healthy eating habits among employees and combating food waste. Coordinated by Edenred in 11 countries, FOOD mobilizes 31 prestigious public and private partners, such as the National Institute of Public Health and the Association of Family Doctors Bucharest-Ilfov at national level.

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About Edenred

Edenred is a leading digital platform for services and payments and the everyday companion for people at work, connecting 52 million users and 2 million partner merchants in 45 countries via close to 950.000 corporate clients. 

Edenred offers specific-purpose payment solutions for food (such as meal benefits), incentives (such as gift cards, employee engagement platforms), mobility (such as multi-energy, maintenance, toll, parking and commuter solutions) and corporate payments (such as virtual cards).  

True to the Group’s purpose, “Enrich connections. For good.”, these solutions enhance users’ well-being and purchasing power. They improve companies’ attractiveness and efficiency and vitalize the employment market and the local economy. They also foster access to healthier food, more environmentally friendly products and softer mobility. 

Edenred’s 10,000 employees are committed to making the world of work a connected ecosystem that is safer, more efficient, and more responsible every day.  

In 2022, thanks to its global technology assets, the Group managed some €38 billion in business volume, primarily carried out via mobile applications, online platforms and cards. 

Edenred is listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange and included in the following indices: CAC 40, CAC 40 ESG, CAC Large 60, Euronext 100, Euronext Tech Leaders, FTSE4Good and MSCI Europe. 

The logos and other trademarks mentioned and featured in this press release are registered trademarks of Edenred S.E., its subsidiaries or third parties. They may not be used for commercial purposes without prior written consent from their owners. 

About HORA

HORA, the Employers’ Organization of Hotels and Restaurants in Romania is the representative authority of the Romanian hospitality industry, with the mission to support and promote the common interests and values of its members nationally and internationally. The organization has over 100 members and aims to redefine the Romanian hospitality industry on the ethical, economic and cultural coordinates it deserves.