Sharebite CEO advocates for US employer meal programs inspired by Brazil

Despite estimates suggesting that nearly 150 million Americans, or almost half the country’s population, struggle with food insecurity, the issue rarely surfaces in political conversations. Official data from Feeding America indicates that 47.9 million people experienced food insecurity in 2024, though this may be the last reliable count due to changes in data collection by the USDA.

Rising inflation, with annual rates reaching 3.7% in September and food prices increasing by 33% since 2019, is exacerbating the problem. A recent Government Accountability Office report highlights that companies like Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash now lead major employers in the number of workers receiving SNAP benefits, surpassing even Walmart and McDonald’s.

Sharebite proposes a solution: leveraging existing employee meal benefits to address hunger. “We just have to start thinking about hunger, not only as a societal problem but more as an economic problem that businesses can help solve,” Rao stated.

Founded in 2015, Sharebite partners with businesses to manage employee food ordering and catering, streamlining expense reporting. For each meal ordered through the platform, Sharebite donates an equivalent meal to nonprofit organizations such as Feeding America and City Harvest. To date, the company has donated over 18 million meals. The company received a $39 million Series B round in 2022 from investors including Contour Venture Partners, Essential Capital, Lafayette Square, Liberty City Ventures, and Fiserv.

Rao, formerly an investment banker at Credit Suisse, draws inspiration from Brazil’s Workers’ Food Program, established in 1976. This program offers tax incentives to companies that provide meals to their employees, currently reaching approximately 22 million workers. Rao believes the U.S. should adopt a similar approach, integrating food benefits into the existing framework for healthcare and retirement.

The potential benefits extend beyond social responsibility. The Food is Medicine Institute at Tufts University estimates that healthcare spending and lost productivity related to poor diets and food insecurity cost over $1.1 trillion annually. Furthermore, offering lunch as a perk is proving to be a significant factor in attracting employees back to the office.

Sharebite reports experiencing rapid growth, with last week marking the company’s best week ever and October being a record month. The business is now more than 30 times larger than it was four years ago, and Rao believes the market is still in its early stages.