A partnership built to multiply impact

For Harris and Simon, joining forces wasn't just convenient. It was a strategic move built to scale impact faster than either business could alone.

"Collaboration allows us to scale our impact," Simon says. "From a customer's perspective, purchasing from both Fruit2Work and Meals with Impact means they're creating twice the social impact through a single purchasing decision."

Rather than each business trying to build skills outside its expertise, they combined strengths instead. The outcome is a stronger product, a smoother customer experience, and social impact that multiplies rather than adds up.

"This initial engagement brought us together to discuss the challenges experienced by each organisation," Harris adds. "The partnership allows us to support women from migrant and refugee backgrounds to break through barriers to employment, while simultaneously supporting people impacted by the justice system, all through one invoice."

How the service works

The model is designed to be simple for busy procurement and office teams:

• Customers order Meals with Impact products through Fruit2Work's e-commerce and B2B channels.
• Fruit2Work manages ordering, customer service, and delivery logistics.
• Meals are prepared in Meals with Impact's kitchen, where women from migrant and refugee backgrounds cook culturally authentic dishes.
• Fruit2Work staff deliver the meals alongside corporate fruit boxes and office staples.
• Customers receive biannual attribution reports showing the social value their orders have generated.

One supplier relationship. One invoice. Two certified social enterprises supported at once.

Take a look at what you can order

The partnership is already earning praise from the corporate customers using it. One Lendlease employee shared their experience:

"The feedback we've received on the meals has been fantastic. Everyone keeps saying how great the meals taste, and colleagues already have their go-to favourite flavours. And the best part is that every purchase also supports a meaningful cause, which makes the whole experience even more rewarding."

Government is paying attention too. Amanda Rishworth, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, has included social enterprise in the biggest reform to Australia's employment services system in 30 years, recognising social enterprise as genuine solution partners for people who are furthest from the labour market.

Tara Anderson, CEO of Social Traders, says partnerships like this one show exactly why corporates should look to the sector. 

"Social enterprises are proof that you don't have to choose between quality and purpose. Businesses like Meals with Impact and Fruit2Work compete on service, reliability and product excellence every single day, and every dollar spent with them creates real jobs and real change for people who need it most.” 

“When corporates partner with certified social enterprises, they're not just meeting a social value target. They're backing businesses built to solve some of the toughest challenges in our community and getting a brilliant product or service in return."

Both Harris and Simon are quick to challenge the idea that buying from a social enterprise is a compromise. "The reality is we're businesses first," Simon says. "We compete on quality, service, price and reliability just like any other organisation. The difference is that instead of profits benefiting shareholders, they're reinvested back into our communities to create employment opportunities and lasting social change."

Harris agrees. "As a professional chef, I would never provide food to customers if I didn't believe the product was of high value. I have been working alongside women from migrant and refugee backgrounds for over six years, and I have seen firsthand the incredible culinary knowledge, company loyalty, and unparalleled desire to contribute to their new country of origin."