Unilever and WACS Join Forces Supporting Women in Foodservice
America are women. Unfortunately, almost half of those women will end up leaving the professional culinary world due to a sense of isolation in a still male-dominated profession, especially when they find themselves struggling to balance the demands of their family and career. Industry thought leaders estimate that the future success of these women’s careers will depend on the influence and mentoring of role models.
In support of women in food, The World Association of Chefs’ Societies (WACS) has teamed up with industry leader Unilever Foodsolutions on a first ever international initiative called Women in WACS (WIW). The program is designed to inspire and encourage women to pursue and excel in culinary careers. Women will learn from other women about the multitude of career paths available to them in the culinary field and receive much needed support for achieving and maintaining professional success.
WIW is the brainchild of Susanne Metz, Managing Partner, Master Chefs’ Institute and current first lady of WACS. At the 2006 Congress in New Zealand, Metz noticed an apparent lack of women members and their visibility within the world wide organization. Since that time, the WACS Board has enthusiastically agreed to make WIW a major initiative. WACS promotes changes within its organization to better understand and support the needs of women members.
“The number of women in culinary arts has quietly grown by leaps and bounds during the past decade. Yet, their work tends to be overshadowed by their male counterparts. This new initiative will help women gain a stronger voice and representation within the industry and help encourage and promote greater opportunities for them – equal to that of men,” says Metz. “Women chefs need to see that they do not all have to be groundbreakers but can learn from the experiences of those women who walked before or alongside of them. An international network of women chefs could help retain women in culinary careers and boost their confidence in their professional advancement.”
Currently, WACS is featuring monthly portraits of female chefs from around the globe. These women represent different career choices within the industry and serve as role models and women leaders.
At the WACS 2008 World Congress in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, there will be the first forum for WIW to help promote opportunities for women to pursue their culinary or food related careers. In addition, a recognized industry leader will speak at the general session about essential strategies on how to increase women’s leadership role in the hospitality industry. Future strategy involves seeking out and securing other speaking engagements and providing a venue for support and networking opportunities.
“Unilever Foodsolutions is actively committed to heightening the awareness and pursuit of female culinary excellence through sponsorship of the new initiative,” says Mary O’Broin, Vice President, Marketing, Unilever Foodsolutions.
The World Association of Chefs’ Societies (WACS) is a global network of chefs dedicated to maintaining and improving the culinary standards of global cuisines. WACS consists of 74 chef's national associations and has over 8 Million members worldwide. This initiative represents a new focus on understanding the importance of respecting and celebrating diversity within the culinary profession and attracting more female members.
Unilever Foodsolutions is one of the world’s leading global foodservice companies. The Unilever Foodsolutions umbrella is home to such well-known brands as Knorr®, Hellmann’s®, Lipton®, Lawry’s®, Promise®, LeGoût®, and Country Crock®.
