This week, Lords Cricket Ground played host to the UK’s foodservice industry, as their achievements working behind-the-scenes to improve the nation’s health and wellbeing were recognised at this year’s Health & Vitality Honours during a lunchtime ceremony.
The 2015 Health & Vitality Honours – hosted by corporate sustainability champion Footprint – saw some of the biggest names in the foodservice and hospitality industries receive awards for their exceptional contribution to the promotion and practise of health-conscious business. Some of this year’s winners include Dine Contract Catering, The Sussex Partnership and Lexington.
There were 7 different categories and winners were chosen by a panel of expert judges including Maeve Walsh and Gwen Nightingale Joint Deputy Directors of Obesity and Food Policy at Department of Health; Wan Mak, Head of Nutrition and Dietetics, Sodexo UK & Ireland; the chair of The University Caterers Organisation, Julie Barker; and nutritionist and writer, Amanda Ursell.
Charles Miers, Managing Director of Footprint congratulated the winners saying this year’s honours were a ‘showcase’ of the excellent work so many companies, and individuals, are doing to drive forward nutrition and wellbeing across the industry, adding:
“The past year has demonstrated how important it is for foodservice companies to take an active role in the health and wellbeing of the general public, especially in line with the government’s Responsibility Deal.
“The rising obesity numbers in Britain and emphasis on healthy eating programmes, has meant the hospitality and catering sectors have an even greater responsibility to ensure that schools, restaurants, and people in the workplace receive a balanced and nutritional diet. These awards provided the opportunity to recognise the exemplary achievements foodservice organisations have already made to tackle the health issues facing today’s society.”
Health & Vitality Honours is associated with Footprint Forum, a member organisation open to all senior professionals who work within the foodservice supply chain. Footprint’s aim is to create a community where food industry stakeholders can discuss and share best practice with one another as well as continue to change food attitudes and practise through legislative debate.
Full list below
Health & Vitality Communication and Engagement Honours
Winner:Compass Group
Runner Up: Nutrition and Hydration Week
Health & Vitality Sourcing Honours
Winner: The Sussex Partnership
Runner Up: Sodexo
Public Sector Health & Vitality Honours
Winner: Leeds City Council
Runner Up: The Sussex Partnership
Corporate Vitality Honours
Winner: Dine Contract Catering
Runner Up: Nestle UK
Healthy Hospitality Honours
Winner: CH&Co
Runner Up: Dine Contact Catering
Responsible Manufacturing Honours
Winner: Houghton Hams
Runner Up: Nestle UK
Health & Vitality Product of the Year
Winner: Lexington
Runner Up: Innocent
Special Achievement Honours
Winners: Ruth Casson and Rachel Bradford
Runner Up: Caroline Fry
For information on the Footprint and the work it is doing in the foodservice sector go to www.foodservicefootprint.com or find them on Twitter @Footprintmediagroup