Healthy catering commitments
Wednesday 30 July 2008
The Agency is working closely with the largest workplace caterers operating in the business and industry sector in the UK to help them ensure their customers can make healthier choices when eating out.
For many people, the food they eat in the workplace forms a large proportion of the food they eat out. Around three million meals are eaten at work every day, two million of which are prepared by contract caterers.
In January 2008, commitments were published from five workplace caterers and two of the largest food suppliers to the catering sector, to deliver practical changes that will benefit consumers eating at work throughout the country. In July 2008, the commitments from a further six workplace caterers were provided. This will result in positive changes to more than 1.6 million meals served by these 11 companies in the workplace everyday.
The commitments will be updated to record the progress, and include plans for how they will be monitored and reviewed. Individual commitments (against a framework) have been made by each company to take account of the differences in the way their business and kitchens operate. Therefore, although the companies are committing to similar outputs, they are taking slightly different approaches to delivery.
You can find out more about the companies involved and the commitments they have made below.
Commitments from suppliers to catering businesses
3663 First for Foodservice – is the UK’s leading foodservice wholesale distributor, providing more than 30,000 schools, hospitals, hotels, pubs, restaurants and other catering outlets with ambient, frozen, fresh, chilled and speciality food and beverages.
Brakes – is the leading supplier of chilled, frozen and ambient foods and non-food products to caterers across the UK.
Commitments from catering businesses and foodservice providers
Accent – is an independent fresh food company, which is committed to using the finest fresh ingredients from quality local suppliers, to provide healthy eating for business and industry, independent and state education.
ARAMARK – is a service partner to organisations across a range of sectors, including business and industry, judicial, education, healthcare, offshore and defence. We employ over 12,500 employees to deliver tailor-made foodservice and refreshment solutions.
Artizian – provides fresh food to clients in restaurants, cafés, coffee bars, licensed bars, and through reception, office and hospitality services. It has a growing national portfolio of 20 units, serving approximately 5,000 meals each day.
Autograph – Autograph Foodservice (part of the Rentokil Initial Group) offers dynamic business and industry catering solutions throughout the UK, and currently operates 170 diverse contracts.
BaxterStorey – as the UK's leading independent contract caterer, BaxterStorey offers a catering service that focuses on delivering a quality product to its customers using fresh ingredients prepared by well trained and motivated teams.
Charlton House – is an independent caterer with 150 contracts in its portfolio, including business and industry clients, prestigious venue catering and commercial restaurants. It serves about 200,000 meals per week.
Compass Group – Leading foodservice company Compass Group UK & Ireland provides food and support services to clients and customers in the workplace, at schools and colleges, hospitals, at leisure, and in defence, offshore and remote locations.
Elior UK – is a creative foodservice company, whose operating companies supply catering and related services to over 1,000 clients throughout the UK, in the private sector for business and industry, education and healthcare; as well as contracts for heritage sites, the travel sector, sporting venues and in retail.
ISS Eaton – specialises in the provision of workplace dining – whether this is in staff restaurants, general hospitality or fine dining. The company operates across 95 client sites nationwide.
ISS Mediclean – is the UK health division of the global ISS Group. It provides full facility services to the NHS and private hospitals and employs around 13,000 people in more than 300 units across the country.
Sodexo – provides food and facilities management services to over 2,300 locations in the UK and Ireland, with clients ranging from those in business and industry, healthcare, education and defence, to a wide ranging leisure portfolio including sporting venues, visitor attractions and prestigious events.
