STOP WASTE > OzHarvest CEO CookOff
Cooking for change: Eurocold supports OzHarvest CEO CookOff to fight food insecurity
At a glance
Event
OzHarvest CEO CookOff
Location
Brisbane Powerhouse, Monday, 27 October 2025
When food industry leaders step into the kitchen for a cause
For our Managing Director, Avraam Solomon, stepping into the kitchen at the OzHarvest CEO CookOff isn’t about learning recipes. It is about understanding what hunger really looks like in Australia.
“I’m excited about my first CookOff,” Avraam says. “I’ve spent my whole life around food logistics and transport, but seeing firsthand how OzHarvest brings people together to fight food insecurity is something else entirely. It’s powerful.”
A night that brings food and purpose together
The CEO CookOff is one of OzHarvest’s most special events. Each year, business leaders from across the country trade suits for aprons, teaming up with celebrity chefs to cook a restaurant-quality meal for hundreds of guests who have experienced food insecurity.
“It’s such a unique night,” says Michaela Windsor, Queensland State Manager at OzHarvest. “All the fundraising happens in the lead up, and then on the night, Avraam and the other CEOs work side by side with our chefs. The meal they prepare is shared with our VIP guests who are people who come from the charities we deliver to. Sitting together, connecting, and sharing that food is incredibly moving.”
Why it matters
The hidden issue behind the event
Food insecurity doesn’t always look like what people imagine. It can be a parent skipping meals to make sure their kids can eat, or someone choosing between paying the electricity bill and buying groceries.
“Food insecurity is a hidden issue,” Michaela explains. “People often keep it to themselves while making impossible choices. That’s why events like the CEO CookOff matter. They shine a light on the issue and open the door to real conversations about how we can help.”
For Avraam, that message hits close to home. “I grew up in the food industry and saw how much good food was being thrown away,” he says. “I remember standing behind supermarkets, watching waste pile up and thinking, surely we can do better. OzHarvest has turned that thought into action.”
Stopping waste is part of who we are
When Eurocold began five years ago, the founding team built the company around four core values. One of those values is to stop waste.
“It was in our DNA before we even built our first truck,” Avraam says. “So when you look at what OzHarvest does, it’s such a natural fit. They’re out there rescuing food every day, and we’re helping food businesses move it safely and efficiently. It’s the same goal viewed from two sides.”
That shared purpose made joining the CEO CookOff a simple decision. “It just made sense,” he adds. “Giving back to the industry that feeds us feels right. Helping feed people on the other side completes the circle.”
It’s just the beginning
From one night to lasting change
While the CEO CookOff is one incredible night, Avraam sees it as the beginning of a bigger journey.
“For me, this isn’t a one-off event. It’s about creating momentum,” he says. “Next year, I want to see more of our team and our clients involved. Whether it’s volunteering, fundraising or donating services, everyone has a role to play.”
Michaela agrees. “We’ve been rescuing food for more than 20 years, but we can’t do it alone. Collaborations with businesses like Eurocold are what keep us moving. Those refrigerated trucks, that industry expertise, those voices, all help us get more food to more people.”
A shared mission to stop waste and feed hope
Eurocold and OzHarvest share the belief that no good food should go to waste while people go hungry. The CEO CookOff brings that belief to life in the most human way possible… through connection, conversation and a shared meal.
Avraam’s participation has already helped raise tens of thousands of dollars, translating to more than 70,000 meals, with the goal of reaching 100,000 before the event wraps up.
“We’re proud of what’s been achieved,” Avraam says. “But there’s still work to do. The more people who get involved, the greater the impact we can make.”
In it together
Every meal matters. Every dollar helps.
Join us in supporting OzHarvest and help Avraam hit the $50,000 target to feed more Australians doing it tough.
Food insecurity is a hidden issue.
People often keep it to themselves while making impossible choices. That’s why events like the OzHarvest CEO CookOff matter. They shine a light on the issue and open the door to real conversations about how we can help.
Michaela Windsor, OzHarvest