Sodexo awarded silver catering mark at Scottish Government

Sodexo, the world’s largest services company, at the Scottish Government has become the first workplace food service provider in Scotland to receive the silver Food for Life catering mark by the Soil Association, and the third in the UK.

Sodexo has worked in partnership with the Scottish Government for over 12 years and in early 2013 applied for the award at four of the largest sites, and received silver for all four. In Edinburgh the sites are Victoria Quay, St Andrew’s House and Saughton House with Atlantic Quay in Glasgow.

Derek Mackintosh, head of facilities services at the Scottish Government said, “My congratulations to Sodexo at the Scottish Government on achieving the silver Food for Life award.

It is a considerable achievement to be the first workplace restaurants in Scotland to receive this award – and having worked closely with Sodexo to achieve the standard, it’s one we also take great pride in. “We have been working in partnership with Sodexo for twelve years and in that time there has been a transformation in the service provided to staff and the Scottish Government. We are committed to continuing to improve the offering to our staff in terms of fresh, sustainable and healthy food.”

The Food for Life Catering Mark is a unique, UK-wide scheme which rewards public and private sector caterers who serve fresh food that is free from controversial additives and better for animal welfare.

The Food for Life Catering Mark is a unique, UK-wide scheme which rewards public and private sector caterers who serve fresh food that is free from controversial additives and better for animal welfare. To achieve silver Sodexo is required to ensure that 5% of its purchases are organic, and that some produce is free range as well as the requirements for the bronze award which are:   At least 75% of the dishes on the menu are freshly prepared

All meat is from farms which satisfy UK welfare standards and can be traced back to the farm

All eggs are from cage free hens

Meals do not contain any undesirable food additives, hydrogenated fats or GM ingredients

No endangered fish is served

Soil Association Scotland director Laura Stewart said: “We are delighted that Sodexo has been awarded the silver catering mark for four of the staff dining restaurants at the Scottish Government.

This award is particularly significant given the Scottish Government is a major funder for the three-year Food for Life Scotland Programme, showing a commitment to leading by example when it comes to serving fresh, healthy and sustainable food to their own staff. “The Sodexo team at the Scottish Government have worked hard to deliver this award, bringing in more ethical and environmentally-friendly ingredients including some organic and free range produce.

I’d like to congratulate them on their achievement and the hard work that has gone into the process of preparing for and being awarded a Silver Catering Mark. “Providing access to good quality food during the work day for staff is an investment in an organisation’s biggest asset, their people.

These four Scottish Government sites are some of only a handful of workplace catering sites who have a catering mark in Scotland, and we are looking forward to seeing more workplaces come on board in the future.” Graham Box, managing director for Sodexo in Scotland said, “This is a fantastic achievement.

There is a clear synergy with our commitment to provide local, fresh and seasonal produce whenever possible and the Scottish Government’s own policy on sustainable purchasing and promoting the use of local growers and suppliers. Over the last five years, we have managed to purchase all fresh meat, dairy and bakery produce from within Scotland, and whenever possible we source all seafood, fruit and vegetables and retail goods from within Scotland.”

The silver catering mark adds to the Healthy Living plus award Sodexo holds at these four Scottish Government sites and its sustainability credentials also include the impact of its operations on the environment.

Sodexo only supply biodegradable or compostable take away packaging and all of its food waste is composted off site, ensuring waste to landfill is zero.