Sodexo has strengthened its commitment to remove single-use plastic items from its operations by making available only wood, paper, cardboard or fibre-based take-away bags, straws, plates, cutlery and stirrers. Sodexo becomes the largest foodservice provider to implement such a commitment in Europe, going beyond the upcoming European Union Single-Use Plastic Directive taking … [Read more...]
Bartlett Mitchell launch ‘Amuse Bouche’ virtual food and drink events
Bartlett Mitchell has launched ‘Amuse Bouche’ — a series of virtual food and drink events devised by its chefs and food and entertainment experts. Guests will have a choice of more than ten packages, which can be tailored to their preferences and are designed to cater for all types of events, including virtual celebrations, awards ceremonies, induction training, and team … [Read more...]
Sodexo mark International Women’s Day 2021 through helping female prison leavers into employment
To mark International Women’s Day 2021, Sodexo is launching a series of virtual engagement events designed to help female prison leavers get back into employment. The sessions will be delivered as part of Sodexo’s SheWorks programme, aimed at introducing women to new job opportunities they may not have previously considered and will focus on female offenders … [Read more...]
Company responsible for free school meal voucher fiasco awarded new £190 million contract
Edenred, the company at the centre of last year’s free school meal voucher fiasco has been awarded with a new government contract worth £190 million. On top of existing contracts worth £425 million. Following the furore last year around so many school children going hungry, the government's National Audit Office looked into the problems. They then reported that the … [Read more...]
Tenders invited for £5 million catering at Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games
The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games has begun the search to find suppliers who can deliver nearly £5 million of catering services throughout the Games. With just over 500 days to go until the start of the Games, the official procurement process to find catering suppliers who will provide services to all spectators, athletes, officials, volunteers, and workforce, has … [Read more...]
Catching up on all things catering with Ian Thomas
Last May, a few months into the Covid pandemic we sat down with Ian Thomas, CEO, Bartlett Mitchell to get his view on all things Covid and catering. Since then the world of catering has continued to adapt within a previously unseen business landscape, and Bartlett Mitchell was acquired by WSH. So, we arranged to sit down with Ian again to get an update. Firstly, … [Read more...]
The House of Commons honours caterer Julia Clifford
The Members’ Tea Room at the House of Commons will be renamed ‘Julie’s Tea Room' in honour of a popular member of the parliamentary catering team, Julia Clifford, who passed away recently after contracting Covid-19. Earlier this week in a statement made prior to parliamentary questions, Speaker of the House Sir Lindsay Hoyle led a tribute to “friend and colleague” Julia … [Read more...]
Caterers’ react to roadmap
Boris Johnson has delivered his roadmap for reopening, the timelines are not what some had hoped for, but do provide a framework to start planning the reopening process, alongside defined guidelines. With preparations for reopening now starting in earnest, we spoke with some of the UK’s leading caterers to gauge their initial reactions to the roadmap, and what follows on from … [Read more...]
Sodexo Social Impact Pledge 2021
Sodexo UK & Ireland has committed to a series of pledges forming its ethical manifesto to help improve quality of life for society and our planet. These pledges include gifting up to 25% of its apprentice levy to SME suppliers, enabling them to create 100 new apprenticeships; cutting food waste by 50% across all its sites by 2030; and ensuring 40% of the business’ spend is … [Read more...]
Catering author’s 100th birthday marked with Centenary Lecture
Ron Kinton who co-authored the catering students’ bible ‘Practical Cookery’ alongside Victor Ceserani, earlier this month celebrated his 100th birthday. Kinton commenced his career with a three year chef training course at Westminster Hotel School before working in kitchens at the Waldorf Hotel and Claridge’s. At the outbreak of the Second World War, Kinton joined the Army … [Read more...]
Fika Catering and Bloom Coffee Academy launch
Fika Catering, and social enterprise, The Bloom Coffee Academy have been launched by Ed Walker, formerly an Operations Director with BaxterStorey. The two companies are set to offer a new service to clients by blending social enterprise and ethics with nutritious food and wellness. Central to the Fika DNA is the commitment to become the UK’s first B-Corporation food service … [Read more...]
New interim CEO appointed at ISS UK & Ireland
Andrew Price has been announced as the Interim CEO for UK and Ireland. Andrew joins the UK and Ireland team with extensive experience within ISS, having first joined in 1995 and latterly holding Senior positions in ISS Group, namely Head of Global Key Accounts and most recently Group Chief Commercial Officer. The appointment comes after Purvin Patel Country Manager of … [Read more...]
Subscription-based contract catering launched through Mosaic
Mosaic is a new subscription-based contract catering and FM model launched as part of a move to offer clients flexible solutions in a post-Covid workplace. The model, initiated by Bartlett Mitchell, will enable clients to sign-up to a flexible monthly budgeted plan, where all the client pays for is the food and services consumed and used during that period. As a … [Read more...]
Breakspear appoints Balanced Food Co for catering
Breakspear Park has today announced the appointment of The Balanced Food Co. to provide catering services across its multi-tenanted site. The two-year deal will see the company provide an artisanal cafe, offering both full-service catering and grab and go options. Post lockdown, full restaurant service will commence for the building’s 1,300 inhabitants. The contract comes … [Read more...]
Children’s Minister calls on Chartwells/Compass Group CEO to explain food parcels debacle
The images yesterday of food parcels going to the poorest of school children entitled to free school meals while schools are in lockdown were shocking to say the least. What is equally shocking is leading foodservice provider, Chartwells, part of Compass Group that supplied the food parcel, in a statement of supposed apology, seems to view the contents of the image above as … [Read more...]
