
Leon Aarts has an innate ability to increase impact in areas of building a more equitable and sustainable food system.
Through his leadership he has build several partnerships, public and media campaigns which amplify his message and easily attract funding support and volunteers.
His specific expertise lies in the field of diverting surplus food at scale whilst at the same time increasing the number of meals distributed to people living in food insecurity. Leon is an expert at scaling his projects fast and sustainably.
READ more: Leon’s Story in Food
“Love is the only thing
You can keep giving away
Without ever running out.”
Marie- Louise Aarts-Bellefroid
Leon's TEDx Maastricht - the power of sharing a meal
WATCH Leon's TEDx Maastricht talk about the power of sharing a meal with insights from the Calais Refugee Camp.
Leon’s top achievements, besides being a proud dad of two, are:
- Feeding Londoners during the pandemic and beyond - In September 2022, Leon was awarded the BBC Radio London’s Make a Difference Award - The Fundraiser category for leading a volunteer team to feed up to 5,000 Londoners every day in lockdown during the pandemic through the charity he founded, With Compassion. Under Leon’s leadership through With Compassion and The Felix Project's Felix’s Kitchen, 3 Million plus were cooked and redistributed from 2020 to 2023. Watch a video here.
- Supporting refugees - Providing daily nourishment for up to 10,000 refugees in ‘the Jungle’ refugee camp in France through his charity, Calais Kitchens, and then becoming a TEDx speaker sharing his experience.
- Entrepreneur - Becoming highly successful and accomplished in the hospitality space and food sector - owning a fine dining restaurant, being an executive chef at celebrity owned restaurant Le Garage, the equivalent of the British, ‘The Ivy’, and launching a fine food business, TFC Express, worth £3.5M which grew to be #1 in the niche market.
Leon on National Television
WATCH Leon in action with Miriam Margoyles OBE, writer, actress, political activist and television personality on Miriam's Dickensian Christmas (screened on Channel 4, December 2022) as he creates a Christmas dinner from surplus food. (Credit: Channel 4)
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Talk and Workshops the Power of Sharing a Meal
"During the extraordinary breaking bread session Leon masterfully guided us, through storytelling and reflection, he created a
warm and open atmosphere where participants felt encouraged to share their personal experiences.
The result was a deeply emotional and unifying experience that resonated with everyone in the room.
This workshop was a celebration of connection, memory, and tradition. Leon’s ability to create such a meaningful dialogue left a
lasting impact on all of us. It was an unforgettable event that strengthened our sense of
community and reminded us of the powerful role food plays in shaping our lives.
I highly recommend Leon Aarts to anyone looking for an inspiring, thought-provoking, and emotionally enriching experience."View more details...
Contact Leon
E: leon [at] leon-aarts [dot] com
M 〡 WhatsApp:
+44 (0) 7783575722
© 2023