Career Growth Driven by Sustainability and Leadership

 

In less than a year, Chef Wilberto Rodriguez went from kitchen assistant to Executive Chef at a major pharmaceutical company in San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico. His rapid rise is a testament to his passion, leadership, and strong commitment to sustainability.

When Wilberto took on his new role, he made tracking and reducing food waste a top priority, which led to significant results.

Because of Wilberto’s passion and his team’s focus, they managed to shift their production based on guests purchases and cut overproduction in half by repurposing ingredients as well as utilizing whole foods from root-to-stem. All food waste from the marketplace is now repurposed to feed local animals, greatly reducing what goes to landfills.

Wilberto also engages guests during Stop Food Waste Day, Compass Group’s largest single day of action in the fight against food waste, by hosting low-waste chef tables. He features dishes like herb-stem pesto and bread pudding made from day-old bread and provides guests with recipe cards to try at home.

“Wilberto’s growth motivates other team members, showing them that hard work and dedication can lead to significant career advancements. Seeing his dedication, hard work, passion for cooking, and following our Eurest Standards and Programs pay off must fill me with pride and satisfaction,” says District Manager Jennifer Sanchez. 

His leadership and dedication to sustainability has made a lasting impact on both his team and the local community, earning him recognition as February 2025’s Food with Purpose Change Maker.

His journey from kitchen assistant to Executive Chef is a powerful reminder of how passion and leadership can drive meaningful change.