Our story

2016

Everybody Eats started as a powerful idea in our founder, Nick Loosley’s, mind. Inspired by his experiences in hospitality and the immense need to address food waste and hunger, Nick envisioned a space where everyone, regardless of their means, could enjoy a nutritious meal.

2017

The first Everybody Eats pop-up launched at Gemmayze Street in St. Kevin’s Arcade on K' Road. The unique, pay-what-you-can social dining concept attracted supporters and diners from far and wide, setting the stage for a new approach to addressing food waste, food insecurity and social isolation.

The Restaurant Association recognised Everybody Eats’ positive impact with the Good Neighbour Award. This honour celebrated our community-led moel enabling people to support each other and connect through the restaurant platform.

2018

We took a major step forward by becoming an officially registered charity. This status strengthened our ability to connect with supporters, volunteers, and partners, creating a more sustainable foundation for our mission.

Our founder, Nick Loosley, was named Westfield Local Hero. The award highlighted his dedication to changing lives by using surplus food to create delicious meals, bringing people together, and fostering a strong sense of community.

Through a crowdfunding campaign, we raised a record-breaking $129,000. With overwhelming support from donors, the campaign allowed Everybody Eats to scale its operations, reach more people, and invest in future growth.

We opened a new site in Avondale, serving meals three nights a week. This new space provided a welcoming environment for everyone, and helped us increase our reach to West Auckland communities.

2019

Building on our success, we opened our flagship permanent full-time restaurant in Onehunga, offering meals five nights a week. A unique partnership model with Onehunga Neighbourhood Cafe and Thinkspace means this venue is in use 7 days a week providing core community services.

2020

We extended our reach to Wellington and Papamoa with additional pop-ups, spreading our mission to more communities across New Zealand and proving that our model could work at scale.

Serving its 20,000th meal was a meaningful milestone, demonstrating the power of Everybody Eats’ work in fighting food insecurity and fostering social connection. Each meal represented a small step toward building stronger, more resilient communities.

Our founder, Nick Loosely was named Kiwibank Local Hero of the Year. This prestigious recognition celebrated his tireless efforts to transform the dining experience into a force for good.

When COVID-19 hit, we had to adapt quickly by offering takeaway meals in place of its usual dine-in service. This pivot allowed the charity to safely continue its mission, supporting communities through an uncertain and challenging time.

2021

Serving its 50,000th meal, we marked another major achievement. With every meal, the charity continued to build relationships, raise awareness about food waste, and promote inclusivity in local communities.

Everybody Eats launched the Goodie Box and Goodie Bowl with media agency DDB, Al Brown, and Decent Packaging. Each takeaway Goodie Box includes a QR code for optional donations, encouraging Kiwis to take restaurant leftovers home and support our mission to reduce food waste and poverty.

2022

The expansion of our second permanent restaurant in Wellington was a big step forward. Operating four nights a weekly with an additional event night on Thursdays, it provides a welcoming and collaborative space for the Wellington community.

2023

We served our 100,000th meal, reaching a significant milestone in our journey. This achievement was a testament to our unwavering community support and the dedication of 1000s of amazing volunteers.

Opening a third permanent restaurant in Glen Innes, Auckland, we expanded our footprint once again. Glen Innes is serving meals five nights a week and our shared space, Tātou, is also home to Soulfood & Friends operating a day time cafe and weekend events.

Everybody Eats Wellington was honoured as the Supreme Winner at the Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards, a testament to the positive impact the charity has had on the local community.

2024

Reaching 200,000 meals served, Everybody Eats achieved an incredible milestone, doubling its impact across New Zealand in a year. This accomplishment reflects the charity’s unwavering commitment to tackling food waste, hunger, and social isolation through shared meals.

Everybody Eats Wellington named the winners of the Outstanding Sustainability Practices Award 2024 at the annual Welly Hospo Awards.