The Salford youth attending World Youth Day in the third week of August will benefit from the restaurant network of the Greater Madrid Area. A network of restaurants and bars will feed the pilgrims and volunteers of WYD in Madrid. Over 400,000 pilgrims will receive a book of meal tickets that can be redeemed at hundreds of restaurants within the Greater Madrid Area.

Nearly 6 million meals in one week
Thus businesses and restaurant chains located throughout the Madrid area will be involved in providing meals to hundreds of thousands of people attending WYD. Madrid’s restaurant network will distribute a total of around 6 million meals during the third week of August.

The meal service to pilgrims will adapt at all times to the activities that will be prepared for them. During the mornings of August 16th to 19th, the youth will attend catechesis talks that will be given by bishops from around the world and held in various suburbs of Madrid. Areas located near the sites for the catechesis will offer various restaurants with the “Pilgrim’s Menu”, so that young people can have something to eat without having to travel long distances or wait in line.

Young people will be able to choose from a wide variety of food styles and menus from among the associated restaurants. The needs of special groups, such as those with celiac disease or diabetes, will also be taken into consideration by the restaurants chosen. Moreover, in the afternoon of the same day, downtown Madrid will host many events such as the Opening Mass and the Stations of the Cross. In anticipation of a massive influx of pilgrims, the organisers will set up a series of distribution points in the street, using tents and trucks to avoid overcrowding of local facilities.

The meal supply system chosen for this WYD is an innovative approach compared to past WYD’s, which were based on meals served in a “picnic” style. It combines the best possible service delivery to the pilgrim with a promotion of the capacity, quality, and professional style of Madrid’s restaurants. Even so, both sides are working constantly both to increase the network of franchises that can offer the 'Pilgrim's Menu' and to ensure adequate information for attendees.

The weekend at Cuatro Vientos
The main events during WYD weekend will be held at the Cuatro Vientos Air Base. Over 1.5 million meals will be handed out to participants who have applied for meal supply in their registration. 125 trucks will carry out the transportation of the food to the site. The meals will then be distributed by over 950 people in tents that will be set up to attend to pilgrims.