Turning Surplus into Support
Every day, thousands of kilos of perfectly edible food go to waste across Australia, while many individuals and families struggle to access nutritious meals. That paradox is what drives Our Big Kitchen (OBK), a Sydney-based charity founded by Rabbi Dr Dovid Slavin and his wife, Laya Slavin.
Operating from a certified commercial kitchen in Bondi, OBK is more than a meal service. It’s a place where volunteers, school groups, and communities come together to cook for a cause, preparing and donating up to 1,500 meals a day for individuals and families in need.But delivering that support safely, especially to people with compromised health or limited access to food, demands more than good intentions; it demands rigorous food safety standards and a reliable way to maintain them.
“The last thing you want to do when you’re giving food away is cause someone to get sick.” Says Rabbi Slavin
A Hidden Risk in a Mission-Driven Kitchen
While OBK already followed strict hygiene protocols and held HACCP certification, the team understood that manual checks weren’t enough to guarantee consistent cold storage, especially in a busy kitchen with constant movement and multiple commercial fridges.
Rabbi Slavin realized the mental load of constantly worrying about spoilage was unsustainable, “you don’t want to be obsessive, checking the fridge every two minutes. But it’s always in the back of your mind.” he noted, and he needed a way to monitor the fridges in real-time, without disrupting their focus or workflow.
Enter Autima: Smart Monitoring with Heart
Through a mutual connection, OBK was introduced to Autima, whose automated temperature monitoring systems were designed to bring control and clarity to environments just like this. More than a vendor, Autima quickly became a partner as they understood the unique needs of a charity kitchen with a commercial workload and a humanitarian purpose.
Autima installed its compact, wireless unit to continuously monitor OBK’sthree commercial fridges. The setup was seamless, requiring only local power, with a built-in SIM card that allows the system to run independently of the existing network infrastructure. “The unit is sleek, professional, and completely unobtrusive. The install was smooth – in and out, no disruption at all.”
From Crisis Averted to Confidence Gained
Not long after installation, the system faced its first real test. One of OBK’s fridges began to fail, but thanks to Autima’s real-time alerts, the team was notified almost immediately and were able to save all contents and reallocate the food safely. “We were able to get everything out while it was still cold. Without the system, we would’ve lost it all.”, Rabbi Slaving said of the incident. Beyond that single event, the biggest impact has been invisible but deeply felt.
“Since installing it, we don’t think about the fridges anymore. That mental load is gone. It’s a huge relief.” says Rabbi Slavin. For the OBK team, every moment not spent worrying about equipment is a moment that can be invested in their true mission: nourishing communities. Autima’s technology enables their team to operate withfocus, confidence, and peace of mind — without sacrificing food safety.
A Quiet Hero Behind the Scenes
Autima’s automated temperature monitoring now plays a critical role in OBK’s operation, protecting food quality, ensuring compliance, and giving the team one less thing to worry about. It’s not flashy. It doesn’t demand attention. And that’s the point.
“The project runs on its own and that’s fantastic. We check it occasionally just to know it’s working. But honestly? We sleep better knowing it’s there.”
Scalable Technology with Built-In Flexibility
Autima’s temperature monitoring solution isn’t just a set-and-forget system, it’s designed to grow with organisations like OBK. Their platform allows for additional sensors, real-time reporting, and customisable alert thresholds, all managed through a secure, cloud-based dashboard.
Whether OBK adds more fridges, expands to a second kitchen, or increases their daily meal volume, Autima’s technology is ready to adapt,
offering continuous visibility, compliance support, and data integrity every step of the way.
