Dishmissed – No Waste Foundation

At Come e Cala-te, food is a natural part of everyday life. It brings rhythm, memories and connection. At the same time, there is a reality that is less visible. Not everyone has a seat at the table. That is why Dishmissed – No Waste Foundation exists.

Long before we became importers or brand builders, we were people who were confronted with a situation we recognised. Instead of looking away, as often happens, we chose to make a difference.

Dishmissed – No Waste Foundation did not begin as a plan or a strategy, but from a moment that felt painfully familiar. A child, a classmate of our own children, would come over to play and often stay for dinner. There was always a request for more. Another sweet, but also another apple, sandwich or plate of pasta. A conversation with the parents made it clear that something deeper was going on. There was a structural lack of financial means to buy basic groceries. We recognised that immediately, because we had once been in that situation ourselves.

That moment raised a simple question. If you have the ability to help, why wouldn’t you?

We founded Dishmissed – No Waste Foundation before Come e Cala-te existed, and the foundation operates independently. What connects the two is responsibility. Through Come e Cala-te, the operational costs of the foundation are covered, and products that can no longer be sold, for example due to damaged packaging or an expired best-before date, are given a new purpose through Dishmissed.

Within our ecosystem, food waste in that sense does not exist. Good food should end up where it is needed.

Most of what Dishmissed does happens quietly. Not because it is small, but because dignity matters more than visibility. We are supported by local companies, and producers in Portugal also contribute structurally by donating products.

This is how good food reaches the right place, at the moment it is needed.

We know we cannot change the world. But for a family that no longer has to worry about their next meal, something does change.

By choosing Come e Cala-te, you become part of this story. Your support ensures the continuity of the foundation. And those who want to do more, through products or financial contributions, help us reach more families when it matters most.

Real value is not only found in the quality of a product or its origin. It is found in how we treat one another, and how we care for someone else in the moments when no one is watching.