Episode No. 8

Transforming Food Waste into Hope with Alan Reed

Thanks to Alan Reed’s refreshingly practical approach to taking on big issues, the Food & Beverage Industry delivered 4 million servings to people facing food insecurity last year.

As Executive Director of the Chicagoland Food & Beverage Network and Bigger Table, Alan shares how his team is transforming food industry challenges into community solutions. This episode is all about turning what could be wasted into something deeply meaningful—delivering real, nutritious, culturally appropriate meals while fostering connections that make solutions sustainable.

From leveraging food industry resources to tackling systemic issues with creativity and heart, Alan shows us what happens when the right people roll up their sleeves and take action.

In this episode:

🦋 How Bigger Table turned food waste into 4 million servings last year

🦋 Why culturally appropriate food matters in solving hunger

🦋 The role of human creativity and connection in food innovation

🦋 What it really takes to transform broken systems

🦋 How AI and technology fit into the future of food manufacturing

This is an inspiring close to Season 8, reminding us that big change happens when dedicated people choose to make a difference.