Epson Australia is supporting OzHarvest's CEO CookOff 2026, with Managing Director Craig Heckenberg set to take part in the Sydney event.
The support includes national sponsorship of the fundraising programme, which has raised more than AUD $16 million since launching in 2012.
Heckenberg is among business leaders joining chefs and corporate teams in a series of cook-off events aimed at raising money for Australians facing food insecurity. In Sydney, he is due to cook and serve meals for local charity communities as part of the initiative.
The campaign comes amid rising pressure on food relief services. OzHarvest's latest Frontline Report found that 70 per cent of charities had seen demand increase over the past year, while one in five people seeking help are turned away because supply cannot keep up.
The food rescue charity supports more than 350,000 people each month through a network of 1,500 charities. A further 1,600 charities remain on a waiting list to receive food.
Heckenberg set an initial fundraising goal of $5,000, which OzHarvest said would help deliver 10,000 meals. Having already reached that target, he is now in contention for the Black Apron, awarded to participants who raise $10,000 or more in a single CEO CookOff.
In addition to backing the event financially, Epson has donated EcoTank ET-4950 printers for use across nine cook-off events around Australia. The printers are expected to be used for recipes, menus and other event materials.
Rising demand
OzHarvest Founder Ronni Kahn said the scale of need had sharpened the focus of this year's fundraising effort. The charity said 3.5 million households in Australia are struggling to put food on the table.
"The CEO CookOff is a reminder that leadership extends well beyond the boardroom," said Craig Heckenberg, Managing Director, Epson Australia.
"I have been overwhelmed by the generosity of colleagues, partners and friends who have already helped me reach my $5,000 target, which translates directly into meals for Australians who need them. Cooking alongside some of the country's best chefs and serving people who rely on OzHarvest's work is a privilege, and I am proud that Epson is backing this event nationally," he said.
Kahn said the cook-off brings corporate leaders into direct contact with the communities served by the charity.
"CEO CookOff is a unique charity fundraising event that showcases leadership in action, encouraging the nation's business leaders to step out of their comfort zones, cook alongside world-class chefs and break bread with guests from the charities OzHarvest serves," said Ronni Kahn AO, Founder, OzHarvest.
"This is fundraising with heart and leading with purpose. It is where business meets compassion, where networking happens over chopped onions, and where every participant leaves feeling fuller, not just from the incredible food, but from the knowledge that they have been part of something truly special."
National effort
The CEO CookOff's fundraising target for 2026 is AUD $2.5 million. OzHarvest said that would enable the delivery of another five million meals.
The broader programme has become one of the organisation's best-known corporate fundraising efforts. By combining donations with meal preparation and service, it connects executives, chefs and charities in a single event format across multiple Australian cities.
Epson's involvement also reflects how companies are using sponsorships that combine financial support with practical donations. In this case, the contribution includes office equipment to support event logistics, alongside participation from its local Managing Director.
The ET-4950 model donated by Epson is a cartridge-free printer with print, copy, scan and fax functions, as well as automatic two-sided printing, a 250-sheet paper tray, a 30-sheet automatic document feeder and wireless connectivity. OzHarvest said the units would support operational printing needs during the national series.
For OzHarvest, the campaign forms part of a wider response to the gap between surplus food supply and growing demand from charities. The organisation collects surplus food from more than 3,000 donors and redistributes it through community groups across the country.
Since launching in 2004, the charity has expanded beyond food rescue into education programmes and public campaigns aimed at reducing food waste. Its latest figures point to both the scale of its national network and the strain now being placed on that system.
According to OzHarvest, 1,600 charities are waiting to access food support.