1. How does the CEO of Paramount Fine Foods address social issues?

What incident
demonstrates Mr. Fakih’s willingness to engage in public discourse?

Mr. Fakih has long donated meals to charitable events and homeless people. When
COVD hit, even though his business was facing trouble and many other similar businesses
remained closed, Fakih with the help of a dozen long-time staff and volunteers decided to give
away free meals to front-line workers in long-term care homes as a thank-you to these workers.
He said that he has most recently been struck by the struggle and plight of workers in long-
term care homes. This made him engage in public discourse by acknowledging the difficulties
faced by these workers. He says that many personal support workers make just above minimum
wage and struggle to find full-time work while facing risks to their own health.
The incidents that demonstrate his willingness to engage in public discourse are the
incidents of Islamophobia in Canada and London. Fakih speaks about the discrimination
people belonging to Islam face and says that addressing Islamophobia needs real political will.
He says that they should do everything to fight islamophobia, antisemitic, anti-black racism and
hatred in Canada and provide equal employment opportunities to people who belong in these
marginalized groups. Fakih’s involvement in public discussions demonstrates his commitment to
addressing social issues and promoting diversity.
All the above show that the CEO of Paramount Fine Foods addresses social issues
by engaging in philanthropy and public discourse.

2. In what ways has Mr. Fakih’s personal journey and background contributed to his
approach to business ethics? How does Mr. Fakih prioritize people and community
in his decision making?
Mr. Fakih grew up in Lebanon where he experienced war. When the pandemic started, it
took him back to the war in Lebanon during which he learned the value of checking in on other
people, motivating each other by telling a win and sharing something that made them loose
sleep. All these things make one value community and be compassionate. He thought they can
still maintain their culture as Paramount could be maintained; modified, pivoted but maintained.
All these are than reflected in his business ethics. His philosophy around corporate
responsibility is ironclad: Give back to community, especially in times of financial hardship.
You depend on them, after all. His commitment to maintaining his company's culture, even
during tough times, reflects his determination to stick to the principles that have made Paramount
Fine Foods what it is.
There are several actions that Mr. Fakih took that show how Mr. Fakih prioritizes people
and community in his decision making such as:
 Donating to the Community (Being responsible to the public): He emphasizes the
value of giving back to community not only when the economy is growing but especially
during times of financial hardship. This is reflected by his decision not to raise prices on
Paramount goods, in the decision to donate meals to charitable events and homeless
 people and to give away free meals to front-line workers in long-term care homes during
COVID even though his business was facing challenges, demonstrating thus a sense of
responsibility to the public.

 Showing responsibilities to employees: Even though his business was facing challenges
during COVID the Lebanese Canadian businessman was determined from the beginning
no to cut staff en-masse, as some competitors had done. Mr. Fakih says that the country
desperately needs a kinder capitalism and Kinder CEOs. He says that they need to stop
thinking that shareholders and customers come first and start thinking of their staff. He
demonstrates his belief by prioritizing his employees. They paid staff in full during the
initial stages of the pandemic and went into top-up options. They also launched new
brands that helped maintain all the staff even though in different positions from what they
had before. All these demonstrate a sense of responsibility towards his employees.

 Supporting people from marginalized groups: He says that they should do everything
to fight islamophobia, antisemitic, anti-black racism and hatred in Canada and provide
equal employment opportunities to people who belong in the marginalized groups.

3. Despite having faced significant financial challenges during the pandemic, how has
Paramount Fine Foods been able to sustain its commitment to charitable initiatives?
Despite facing challenges such as having to pay high rent for restaurants that remained closed
during the pandemic, some of their restaurants resulting in loss, and sales dropping, Paramount
Fine Foods has sustained its commitment to charitable initiatives through innovative business
strategies and a strong sense of social responsibility that are shown through his actions listed
below:
 They rushed to start the idea of a contactless restaurant where people are cooking behind
a wall with cubbies and customers can order online and pick up themselves from
sanitized cubbies.
 The staff Launched new brands to help gain more revenue.
 Paramount introduced the "Dare to Care" menu, lowering food prices to support the
community during hard times.
 He donated free meals to front-line workers in long-term care homes, initiative that
received support from donations, including those from the Islamic Relief charity.