Game, Set, Match: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at La Soupe’s Partnership With the Cincinnati Open

La Soupe’s largest temperature-controlled box truck returns from rescuing food at the 2026 Cincinnati Open

This year, the Cincinnati Open set a new attendance record by welcoming over 300,000 visitors to the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio.

Pallets of food are loaded into a temperature-controlled truck from the 2026 Cincinnati Open

For two weeks, fans watched some of the biggest names in tennis compete for glory in the Queen City, from Frances Tiafoe to Coco Gauff. But after the court lights dimmed and the winners raised their trophies, La Soupe still had one victory left to claim: surplus food, graciously donated by Levy Restaurants when matches wrapped up. 

Levy Restaurants, a food and beverage provider based in Chicago, manages all dining services for the tournament. In just a couple of days, La Soupe rescued 14,456 pounds of ingredients with Levy’s cooperation, marking six years of partnership between the nonprofit and the major tournament. 

On a hot and sunny Tuesday, Palmer Bowman—a member of La Soupe’s Shipping and Receiving team—set out on Day Two of this food rescue mission. 

Though most ingredients were processed on Day One, this second trip was no less important. Let’s take a peek behind the curtain to see what this journey entailed. 

Lemons, and Melons, and Carrots (Oh My!)

La Soupe rescued a total of 14,456 pounds of perishable food from the Cincinnati Open

All in all, La Soupe took home roughly five full pallets of surplus food, which clocked in at 3,439 pounds. Noteworthy acquisitions included lemons, cantaloupes, carrots, papayas, oranges, and even ginger. 

Bowman said securing many of these items in bulk, specifically fresh citrus fruits and ginger, can sometimes be a challenge for La Soupe. Often, those making donations prioritize staple foods over flavor enhancers; plus, some lemons simply spoil before they have the chance to be rescued. 

Now, La Soupe chefs can put this bright and tangy produce to good use when they cook up ready-to-eat meals at 915 E. McMillan St. That’s what we call an ace!

It’s All in the Details

Every rescue run La Soupe executes, regardless of its scale, requires precise attention to detail. 

In this case, the careful order of operations began in a temperature-controlled Ford F-650 Box Truck, generously donated by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. Depending on weather conditions and the distance to a pickup location, drivers like Bowman must activate the vehicle’s refrigeration system at just the right time to ensure food quality isn’t compromised during the transfer process.

Palmer Bowman inspects lemon juice donated by Levy Restaurant Group following the 2026 Cincinnati Open

By the time Bowman rolled into the Lindner Family Tennis Center, parking just outside the facility’s Clubhouse, the truck was crisp, chilly, and ready for loading. On-site workers swiftly stacked boxes and bags of ingredients on pallets, using a cling wrap to bind containers together and prevent any spillage.

When packing up donations, food hygiene is always at the forefront of La Soupe’s strategy. For instance, meats are purposefully positioned on the bottom of pallets to sidestep any possibility of cross contamination, should leaking ever occur on the road. 

With invaluable assistance from Levy’s crew and the center itself, Bowman made sure every morsel of rescued food was safe and stable inside the truck. 

Once the job was done and thank-yous were issued, these ingredients officially began their second life. Upon receipt at La Soupe’s dock, they were weighed, meticulously inspected, and ultimately placed into chefs’ expert hands for transformation. 

The Ball Is in Your Court

Rescued product is weighed at La Soupe’s Walnut Hills facility

For Bowman and many others, the scope and severity of food insecurity can be increasingly difficult to grapple with. But when he sees companies like Levy giving back, plus the smiles of those who receive La Soupe’s meals on a consistent basis, he knows he’s in the right place.

If you or anyone you know may have interest in donating to or volunteering with La Soupe, please visit our website. Community support drives us forward, and we can’t succeed without our incredible network of contributors.