Zoup!, the fast-casual restaurant known for its award-winning gourmet soups, scored a blow in the fight against childhood hunger by meeting its goal to raise $100,000 for No Kid Hungry and Breakfast Club of Canada during National Soup Month in January. Throughout the month, Zoup! guests in the United States and Canada who donated $2 or more to the organizations received a coupon for a complimentary 8 oz. side of soup redeemable on their next visit.
“Our guests really stepped up in a big way,” says Eric Ersher, Zoup! founder and CEO. “It’s astounding that one in six kids in the U.S. struggles with hunger and one in five Canadian children starts the day on an empty stomach. The incredible support we received this year shows the dedication we all share to ending childhood hunger once and for all.”
No Kid Hungry connects children in need to programs like school breakfast and summer meals, teaches low-income families how to prepare affordable healthy meals and educates the public about the nationwide child hunger crisis. “No Kid Hungry is extremely grateful for the remarkable generosity of Zoup! and especially its customers,” said Diana Hovey, senior vice president at No Kid Hungry. “Their support will go a long way toward helping to end childhood hunger in America. I strongly invite all of Zoup!’s guests to visit NoKidHungry.org to find out what they can do to help ensure that every child in America has access to nutritious food every day.”
Zoup! also mobilized its Canadian restaurants to help raise awareness and funds during National Soup Month. Their efforts supported Breakfast Club of Canada, which strives to provide all children an equal chance of success by starting the day with a healthy and nutritious breakfast.
“We’re extremely grateful to both Zoup! and its guests,” said Lisa Clowery, national corporate relations director of Breakfast Club of Canada. “Their support helps make it possible for all of us to ensure that every child has access to the healthy, nutritious breakfast they need in order to learn and grow to their fullest potential.”
Zoup! features a wide variety of award-winning soups with 12 rotating daily varieties, including low-fat, low-cal, vegetarian, made with gluten-free ingredients and dairy-free options, all served with a hunk of freshly baked bread. Customer favorites include Chicken Potpie, Lobster Bisque and Spicy Black Bean Chili, but guests are encouraged to find the soup that’s perfect for them by sampling before they order. The menu also features seasonal, made-to-order salads and sandwiches, and all menu items are available in convenient catering sizes for groups of 10 or more. Online ordering is also available. Guests should join Zoup!’s InsiderZ program for more information, news and special offers including a “buy a bowl, get one free” deal just by signing up.
