Soil Association holds 2018 Food for Life Served Here Awards
With just six awards up for grabs, all entries were reviewed by an independent panel, including: Claire Pritchard, chair of the London Food Board; LACA chair Michael Hales; and Myles Bremner from Bremner Consulting.
2018 also saw the launch of the Green Kitchen Standard award, which - run in conjunction with the Carbon Trust – recognises caterers who are taking “positive steps to sustainably manage energy, water and waste.”
The first ever award went to went to Aramark at University of Westminster.
The full list of winners is as below:
- Green Kitchen Standard Award - Aramark at University of Westminster
- Supplier Scheme Champion - Lower Hurst Organic
- Schools Champion - Doreen Sharp at East Ayrshire Council
- Leisure Champion - Sticklebarn food and beverage team, National Trust
- Higher and Further Education Champion - BaxterStorey at University of Gloucestershire
- Early Years Champion - Windermere Day Nursery, Childbase Partnership
As the longest-standing Gold award holder in the UK, East Ayrshire Council first achieved the accreditation in 2008. Its catering manager, Doreen Sharp, said: “Serving Food for Life standard meals comes as second nature, and parents have come to expect a high quality.
“I’m just doing my job, so I’m overwhelmed by winning the award.”
Soil Association chief executive and award co-presenter, Helen Browning, commented: “Our mission is to double the amount of Food for Life Served Here Silver Awards by 2020 despite the challenges that face us.
“This mission has never been more important, and there is much more work to be done.
“Today, we recognise the inseparable role and importance of farmers, food producers and manufacturers across the industry, who are so critical to the supply chain that supports caterers in achieving Food for Life accreditation.”