Feb, 12 : As part of its ongoing commitment to inclusive development and women’s empowerment, Sunfeast YiPPee! under its Better World Program successfully implemented the latest phase of its social initiative in Uttarakhand. The programme focuses on providing end-to-end support to budding women micro-entrepreneurs by equipping them with capabilities, certifications, training and resources to operate food-cart enterprises sustainably and hygienically. It extended structured livelihood and entrepreneurship support to women beneficiaries in partnership with implementation partner Prayatna.
Potential beneficiaries were mobilized and evaluated through a structured screening process. Based on predefined eligibility criteria, candidates were assessed for their motivation, readiness, and long-term suitability to operate food cart enterprises sustainably. Following in-depth interactions and interviews, ten women beneficiaries were finalized for this phase of the programme.
The beneficiaries subsequently underwent a focused training programme designed to equip participants with essential operational capabilities, covering food hygiene and safety practices, basic financial management, customer handling, and day-to-day business operations, enabling them to run their enterprises with confidence and independence.
Upon completion, they received FoSTaC Basic Catering Course and NSDC dual certification in collaboration with the Food Industry Capacity & Skill Initiative (FICSI), with a strong emphasis on food safety and hygiene standards. Further, branded YiPPee! food carts, along with the required accessories, were distributed to the beneficiaries in January 2026, allowing them to earn sustainable livelihoods. Support was also extended to assist beneficiaries in obtaining FSSAI registration, enabling them to operate their enterprises in a compliant and responsible manner.
Ali Harris Shere, BU Chief Executive, Snack Foods & Beverages, Foods Division, ITC Ltd. said,
“We believe that sustainable livelihoods are created when skill development, entrepreneurship, and dignity of work come together. Through the YiPPee! Better World Program, we are focused on enabling women to achieve economic independence by equipping them with the capabilities, confidence, and resources needed to build resilient micro-enterprises. The expansion of this initiative to Uttarakhand reinforces our commitment to creating inclusive growth opportunities across communities.”
Praising the initiative, Smt. Kusum Kandwal President, Uttarakhand State Commission for Women
“I congratulate ITC for empowering women through food carts, food safety training, and skill development. Such efforts by corporates and their NGO partners complement government initiatives and strengthen our shared mission of empowering women through entrepreneurship.”
Over the past two years, the YiPPee! Better World Program has successfully empowered migrant women in Delhi NCR through the provision of food carts, structured training, and entrepreneurship support. The initiative addressed the unique challenges faced by these women, many of whom struggled with limited access to stable employment opportunities and lived in vulnerable conditions. By enabling them to establish and operate their own food cart businesses, the programme contributed to improved socio-economic outcomes, greater self-reliance, and long-term resilience.
Over the years, ITC’s multi-dimensional women empowerment initiatives under its overall social investment programme has reached over 6 million women in the country. The diverse interventions anchored on the pillars of Education & Awareness, Employability, Enterprising Mindset and Entrepreneurship development aims to enhance current and future livelihood of women.