Refettorio model
What is a Refettorio?
The word Refettorio comes from the Latin ‘Reficere’, meaning ‘to Re-make’, ‘to restore’.
A Refettorio is more than a kitchen, it’s a space for transformation. Here, surplus ingredients are turned into nourishing meals by chefs and volunteers who care deeply about people.
It’s a place full of creativity, connection, and purpose, where we challenge waste, foster inclusion, and inspire change.
Each Refettorio embodies our mission:
Rescue food. Restore people. Rethink hospitality.
Our Model
We rescue surplus food with the help of volunteers, partners and chefs.
We restore dignity to people through nourishment and inclusion, and we rethink hospitality by transforming spaces into hubs of connection, creativity, and hope.
They are spaces that show off the power of beauty and genuine hospitality, a safe space for those who visit, and a warm atmosphere of trust, dignity, and belonging for everyone who enters.
At each Refettorio, surplus food is transformed into nourishing meals by chefs who care about more than just the plate — they care about people.
These are spaces filled with connection, creativity, and purpose.
Refettorio projects are more than kitchens — they are hubs for change, where communities come together to challenge waste and reimagine how we care for one another. They spark creativity, strengthen bonds, and inspire new ways of nourishing people and planet.
Our Community
Our community of stakeholders drives the growth and impact of Food for Soul. Together, we transform bold, innovative ideas into measurable results that inspire real change. We believe everyone has a role to play in building a more sustainable future.
Our partners are a global and diverse network, including individuals, businesses, nonprofits, NGOs, public agencies, and foundations. Their financial, technical, and in-kind support sustains our operations and fuels the expansion of Refettorio projects worldwide. These investments directly power our food, art, and culture programs, education initiatives, culinary training, and research driving a shared mission to rescue food, restore people, and rethink hospitality.
