Ayesha Khan, the founder of Food ATM, operates five kitchens across the UAE that feed 12,000 to 15,000 people daily. Despite the scale of her operation, Ayesha maintains that she is not in the food business. Established in 2019, Food ATM sells full-fledged meals to low-income workers at affordable prices ranging from 50 fils to Dh3. For those who cannot afford the meals, the food is given for free. Ayesha believes that her initiative goes beyond catering and focuses on impacting the community by reshaping the lives of workers and their families.
Ayesha’s inspiration for Food ATM stemmed from her personal experience of struggling with hunger during her youth due to financial hardships. After working hard to establish her career in the telecom industry and experiencing rejection and financial setbacks when starting Food ATM, the pandemic in 2020 led to a surge in demand for her low-cost meals. This ultimately led to her receiving recognition from the Guinness World Records for feeding the highest number of community meals in less than eight hours and becoming a member of the Board of Directors of the United Nations Global Compact, UAE Chapter.
Food ATM operates through annual contracts with corporate organizations for three meals a day for 3,000 workers or more. Each worker is issued a Food ATM card that is loaded with meal counts based on the payment made. Individuals or companies sponsoring a worker must pay for the meals in advance, and the card includes the consumer’s company ID, company name, and contact details. Workers not on contract can pay cash for meals directly at the same low prices to ensure that no one goes hungry throughout the month.
Ayesha’s business model focuses on sourcing near-expiry food items at a low cost to provide affordable meals while reducing food wastage. By offering low-cost meals and avoiding the wastage of products, Food ATM supports thousands of laborers in managing their income. Ayesha emphasizes the importance of educating children about the impact of food wastage and believes that ending world hunger is not an impossible dream. She applauds the UAE government’s efforts in implementing sustainability goals and suggests reaching out to universities to educate children about the effects of food wastage and pollution caused by landfills.
Looking ahead, Ayesha plans to expand Food ATM outlets across all Emirates in the UAE, despite challenges such as high rents. Her goal is to make affordable and accessible food a reality throughout the country, with hopes that with perseverance and dedication, this vision will soon become a reality. Through Food ATM, Ayesha is making a significant impact on the community by ensuring that no one goes hungry and providing support to low-income workers and their families.
