Its teams at the University of Salford, University of Worcester and Senate House at the University of London, have all been granted the Catering Mark. In the spring, Aramark also received it for Askham Bryan College in York.
The Mark is awarded by the Soil Association, and provides a unique guarantee that Aramark’s food at the locations is fresh, seasonal, free from controversial additives such as aspartame and MSG, free from GM and trans fats, and promotes animal welfare. Among other criteria, it also means that all shell eggs used on site are free range and that meat is from animals farmed to British animal welfare standards.
Rob Sexton, CEO of Soil Association Certification, said: “It’s fantastic to see Aramark demonstrating their commitment to healthy food, sustainable sourcing and higher animal welfare standards through achieving the Catering Mark.
“Serving meals to Catering Mark standards provides significant benefits to the local economy, supports smaller local producers, and can have positive impacts all the way down the supply chain. With consumers increasingly asking questions about the provenance and sustainability of the food they are eating, and starting to make more considered choices, this achievement will provide students and staff with the guarantee they are looking for.”
Fiona Martin, Aramark’s client relationship director – education, commented: “Aramark’s mission is to deliver experiences that enrich and nourish lives and the Catering Marks are an example of our mission coming to life through sustainable and ethical catering practices in the higher education sector. We understand that our performance in these areas is critical for the reputation of universities, and is a factor which students consider when deciding where they’d like to study.
“The Food for Life Catering Mark is only awarded to those who have made a major effort to achieve its demanding criteria, so we’re thrilled that we now have more universities accredited than any other foodservice provider. We also have other sites currently undergoing the audit process, so we’re hopeful of adding to the total soon.
“At a time when many people are demanding healthier meal choices, these accolades sit alongside our Healthy for Life programme which is about empowering people to make healthy lifestyle choices. Through these efforts we are proving to be an invaluable partner to our education clients.”
The University of Worcester’s director of environmental sustainability, Katy Boom, added: “The University of Worcester has a long history of working with local suppliers and ensuring we provide healthy and nutritious food for our students and staff. We are delighted that Aramark has achieved this widely recognised and trusted standard and we look forward to working with them to progress to the next silver stage.”