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Giles Platford, President of Takeda’s Plasma-Derived Therapies Business Unit and a Community Servings Board member, discusses Takeda’s support for the Food is Health approach. This
partnership focuses on providing medically tailored meals to improve health outcomes and address health disparities. Platford highlights how Takeda’s investment in initiatives like Community Servings and the AMPL Institute is driving long-term, positive change in local communities.
CS: How has Takeda’s investment in Community Servings supported the Food is Health approach, and why is this a key priority for your company?
GP: At Takeda, we believe that food is an essential part of health and healing. That’s why we’re proud to support Community Servings and their efforts to provide medically tailored meals to patients in need. For us, this is about more than nourishment—it’s about addressing the social determinants of health, which can be overlooked in traditional healthcare settings. By focusing on holistic care, we’re living our mission to create equitable access to lasting health and to improve outcomes for patients managing chronic and critical illnesses through the power of nutritious, personalized meals.
CS: How does Takeda’s support for Food is Medicine initiatives align with your U.S. Community Health strategy to address health disparities and strengthen local communities?
GP: Our strategy is focused on creating healthier communities by providing more equitable access. Supporting organizations like Community Servings and the AMPL Institute allows us to directly address health disparities by ensuring that vulnerable populations receive the nutrition they need to heal and thrive. These programs not only improve individual health outcomes but also can reduce healthcare costs and hospitalizations—creating a ripple effect of positive change in the communities we serve—and hopefully for the long term.
CS: What aspects of Community Servings’ mission and work align with Takeda’s values and long-term Food is Health goals?
GP: What really resonates with us is Community Servings’ commitment to treating every person with compassion and respect. Their work is not only grounded in science, it’s delivered with heart—and this goes back to their founding in 1990. This is very much in line with Takeda’s centuries-old values of integrity, honesty, fairness, and perseverance—and always putting patients first to deliver better health for all. We’re proud to stand alongside them in this work.
CS: Takeda’s visionary support helped launch the AMPL Institute at Community Servings. Why was this initiative important to Takeda, and how does it fit into your broader CSR strategy?
GP: The AMPL Institute aligns with our values, and we saw this initiative as a chance to take our work to the next level. It’s not just about delivering meals—it’s about building the evidence, shaping policy, and scaling what works to create a sustainable impact. It’s an investment in the future of healthcare.
CS: What message would you share with Takeda employees and the broader business community about supporting initiatives like Community Servings to build healthier, more resilient communities?
GP: I would say this: when we invest in people’s basic needs—like access to nutritious food—we’re not just doing good, we’re doing what’s right for public health, for our communities, and for our future. I encourage our employees and peers in the business community to see this work not as charity, but as a strategic imperative for building resilient, thriving societies and ultimately winning for patients.
CS: How does Takeda drive volunteer engagement and event sponsorship, and how do these efforts contribute to Community Servings’ impact?
GP: Takeda’s Growing Communities program is more than a slogan—it’s a lived value connected to our founding in 1781. Our employees are passionate about giving back, and we’ve seen strong engagement in volunteer events with Community Servings, from meal prep to fundraising. These efforts not only amplify the organization’s impact but also deepen our connection to the communities we serve. It’s a powerful example of how a culture of living our values can drive meaningful change.