Sowing the seeds

Sodexo aiming higher for healthyliving award plus

Food service companies, often referred to as contract caterers, are responsible for feeding many thousands of people across Scotland each day in a variety of settings such as workplace restaurants and educational establishments.

The healthyliving award has been keen to work with food service companies from the outset, and has built up good relationships with a number of such companies.

We encourage them to put forward their own assessors to be trained in the healthyliving award criteria, so that they can carry out assessments and act as mentors within their businesses.

Sodexo caterers with some of their award certificates

One such company is Sodexo, which currently has over 70 sites that hold the award. Denise Coulter, Learning & Development Executive at Sodexo, explained why they became involved: "The healthyliving award shares the same principles as "Healthwise", Sodexo’s health and wellbeing philosophy.” 

"Celebrating its 25th birthday this year, "Healthwise" actively encourages the provision and promotion of varied, balanced food options to Sodexo staff, clients and customers.”

"By working closely with government agencies and implementing initiatives such as the healthyliving award, we can share knowledge and expertise on health and wellbeing matters, helping our customers make the right choices about what they eat.”

"Our customers can also be assured that our menu options are provided to an independently accredited standard.  It is also a great training and educational experience for our managers and team members."

Denise went on to explain how Sodexo ensures that they continue to maintain the high standards expected: "We are in constant dialogue with our purchasing department to enable us to have the correct product ranges, and we are currently reviewing and updating our recipe and ingredient requirements.” 

"Given the scope of our business, we need to ensure that our trained assessors are continuously updating all of our units as soon as further developments take place."

Sodexo is also keen to be among the front-runners to achieve the higher level healthyliving award plus. Denise continued: "We are working towards securing the healthyliving award plus at key locations initially, enabling them to become champion sites amongst our business, ultimately encouraging others to follow suit.”  

"We have initially selected sites that have demonstrated an exceptional standard when meeting the core healthyliving award, and those that have expressed a particularly keen interest in achieving the higher standards."

To register for the healthyliving award plus, establishments need to have held the standard level of award for at least two years.

For details on how to apply please email enquiries@healthylivingaward.co.uk or phone 0141 226 5261. 

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issue fourteen:
May 2010
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The healthyliving awardNHS Health Scotland - Scotland's health improvement agencyHealthier Scotland - Scottish GovernmentHealthier Scotland - Scottish Government