Diversity Food Services Inc.

Winnipeg, MB | August 2009 

Diversity Food Services Inc. is a social enterprise co-owned by SEED Winnipeg Inc. and the University of Winnipeg Community Renewal Corporation. It is a multifaceted food service company that operates out of the kitchens at the University of Winnipeg.  Diversity Foods Services is committed to:

Operating a dynamic and sustainable Social Enterprise

• We continue to grow as a business, serving between 10,000 and 18,000 meals per day depending on the season (2018).

Creating foods that are alive with flavor and nutrition, prepared from scratch using authentic ingredients and recipes

Practicing sustainably responsible food sourcing and preparation methods

• As a second-level LEAF certified business (Leaders in Environmentally Accountable Foodservice), we are proud to receive the 2018 LEAF Award for Greenest Restaurant in our category, the 2017 Most Sustainable Food Operation for colleges and universities in Canada and the USA,

• The big picture: in 2018 64% of all Diversity purchases were grown/fished/farmed/manufactured by local and community-based Winnipeg organizations, and/or were certified/verified sustainable by a 3rd party (Fairtrade, rainforest alliance, certified organic, etc.).
• This means that for every dollar spent at a Diversity location, 70 cents is returned to the local economy as a result of procurement or employment practices (2017)

Providing meaningful employment and career development for individuals traditionally marginalized in our economy, including those with cognitive/physical disabilities, new immigrants/refugees, Indigenous peoples, individuals residing in inner-city low-income households, people exiting the justice system, members of the LGBTQQIP2SAA* community and food insecure students

• As of 2017, 78% of our staff self-reported as belonging to one of these groups
• Our employment training program has been proven to have a significant social and economic impact on individuals as well as our greater community. According to a 3rd party consultant our SROI in 2017 was 1:1.68- meaning that every $1 Diversity spent on payroll, we reduced the social costs of supporting low-income individuals by $1.68.
• Another 3rd party analysis of our operations at the University of Winnipeg concluded that “within the last fiscal year, Diversity’s positive local impact through their hiring and procurement practices amounted to close to 2.2 million dollars” (Akerstream, 2017).

Fostering  a positive, dynamic work environment that values the skills of each employee

• Our average hourly paid employee are paid a living wage (as defined by livingwagecanada.ca), and we have a flat benefits program that is available to EVERY full-time (working more than 20 hrs/week) employee (cashiers, dishwashers, managers and senior managers all have the same dental/health/travel/insurance/HSA benefits).

Creating meaningful community through the sharing of food