At large-scale events, excess food is often an afterthought – packed away, thrown out, or left behind. But at the Renasant Convention Center in Memphis, it’s becoming something much more: a tool for community impact.
Thanks to the leadership of RK Bluff City and their internal initiative, RK Cares, food that once risked going to waste is now consistently rescued, repackaged, and redirected to people facing food insecurity across the city. And they’re doing it in real-time.
“An important takeaway from [last month] was that we started the food retrieval processes early into each large event,” said Chef Oliver Henry. “The food came straight from the event and was transferred into foil pans, labeled, dated, and properly cooled, literally as the event was happening.”
At the heart of this work is Rose Coleman, who plays a critical role in ensuring that food safety standards are followed throughout the process. Her on-the-ground leadership has helped establish a reliable, replicable system for safe, efficient food recovery.
“Rose realized and ensured these food safety standards were in place throughout the entire period,” Henry continued. “It’s made a huge difference, not just in efficiency, but in our confidence that what we’re donating is safe and usable.”
Since launching their Memphis operations, RK Bluff City has embraced Project Green Fork’s mission to reduce food waste and improve food access. One key tool in their system is the CareIt app, which helps streamline food donation and pickup coordination.
“We got involved from the very beginning,” said Chef Henry. “We discovered the CareIt app early on, and it makes donating very easy. We love it!”
This collaboration has already made a measurable difference. Renasant Convention Center General Manager Dean Dennis believes this partnership is a model that other venues should follow.
“Project Green Fork and the team have established a simple and easy system to accommodate and assist in receiving and delivering excess food,” Dennis said. “We recommend all facilities and restaurants get involved in the program and see just how easy it is to participate.”
As RK Bluff City continues to grow its presence in Memphis, so does its commitment to community care.
“Donating excess food is extremely important,” said Chef Henry. “The RK Group strongly believes in giving back to our communities as much as possible. With the process we’ve created here, we can now donate more, and we’re excited to see our impact grow.”
Collaboration that feeds
Project Green Fork is proud to partner with RK Bluff City and the entire Renasant Convention Center team. Their work is a clear example of what’s possible when sustainability, hospitality, and community come together with intention.
From convention center kitchens to local nonprofits, their food rescue process is feeding Memphis in more ways than one.
Interested in joining the movement?
Whether you’re a caterer, venue, or food service provider, Project Green Fork can help you create a safe, simple food donation process that works for your team. Contact us to learn more.
