Profits to Plates: How One Manchester Organisation is Redefining Professional Catering

In the heart of Greater Manchester, the standard for “business as usual” is undergoing a radical transformation.

Leading the change is Open Kitchen, a mission-driven organisation that has turned the simple act of booking a team lunch into a powerful engine for community health and education.

CEO David Amesbury recently reported that the team is consistently exceeding its catering targets, proving that Manchester’s professional community is increasingly hungry for ethical alternatives.

Mission Beyond the Menu

Open Kitchen operates on a straightforward but impactful model: Profits to Plates. Unlike traditional catering firms, this organisation reinvests its margins directly into the future of the city.

When a local firm or organisation books an event, the revenue fuels three core pillars:

• School Programs: Hands-on cooking workshops for children across the region.
• Food Literacy: Educating the next generation on sustainable sourcing and nutrition.
• Community Health: Establishing long-term healthy eating habits for families in need.

“Every time a Manchester organisation books a lunch, they aren’t just feeding their team – they’re directly funding our community work across Greater Manchester.” says Amesbury.

The “Menu for Change” Initiative

Open Kitchen’s impact is amplified by its Menu for Change program. This initiative allows clients to go beyond the invoice by making direct donations or “rounding up” their total bill.

Alongside food education, Menu for Change funds community growing projects and the provision of healthy and sustainable products to support Open Kitchen’s community partners, such as local food banks. The team often finds additional ways to provide more personal touches to the community. This past Mother’s Day, Open Kitchen intercepted and redistributed donated flowers to local residents.

“Some people have never received flowers, and it was amazing to be able to change that,” Amesbury shared, reflecting on the emotional weight of their outreach.

Flavour Without the Compromise

There’s a bit of an old myth that if food is “ethical” or “sustainable,” it must somehow be less exciting. Perhaps a bit bland, or lacking that “wow” factor. Open Kitchen is here to flip that script. They’ve built their reputation on a simple truth: sustainable food and high-end quality aren’t just a good match, they belong together.

There’s no compromise here. By choosing ethical catering, you aren’t sacrificing flavour or quality. It’s about finding the very best ingredients that a traditional supply chain often overlooks.

A Call to Action

Open Kitchen is currently expanding, onboarding new community partners and scaling its operations. However, the leadership team emphasises the more people are aware of what they do, the more impact they can have. 

To maintain this momentum, the organisation is calling on the Greater Manchester community to prioritise local impact when planning their next event.

How to Get Involved

• Book Your Event: Choose Open Kitchen for event catering or team functions.
• Spread the Word: Follow and share their journey on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.
• Collaborate: Reach out to David Amesbury directly to discuss how your next event can make a difference.

As a proud member of the regional business ecosystem, Open Kitchen remains dedicated to its dual mission: ending food waste and supporting local people, one plate at a time.