UK: Soil Association is transforming workplace catering

The Soil Association’s Food for Life Catering Mark provides more fresh, nutritious, environmentally sustainable, British meals and is also changing catering - an industry previously driven by cost is now motivated by quality.The association celebrated a landmark achievement in December, with one million high quality meals being served each workday in schools, universities, nurseries, workplaces, hospitals, care homes and restaurants across the UK. 
 
Catering Mark meals are now served in nearly 30 workplaces, 25% schools in England, 20% universities, 300+ nurseries and 100+ care home and hospital settings. Leading institutions with the award include the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Department for Education, the National Assembly of Wales, the Greater London Authority, the National Trust, the RSPB and the Scottish Government. A full list of organisations is available here.

Through the Catering Mark, businesses are showing that improving food quality at work can help to save money, meet CSR targets and strengthen the company brand. Companies including Pearson, EDF, Jaguar Land Rover and PepsiCo are serving Catering Mark meals to staff. The Catering Mark provides a significant boost to the British farming industry too. Collectively, Catering Mark holders annually spend over £7 million on organic ingredients (close to €9 million) and £3.8 million on MSC certified fish, among others.

 
The Food for Life Catering Mark Standards are available in bronze, silver and gold. At silver, at least 5% of ingredients are organic and at gold, at least 15% of ingredients are organic. More information is available from the Soil Association