Raymond Blanc OBE, president of the Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA) presented the caterer with the award in recognition of its continued outstanding level of sustainability.
Mark Linehan, managing director of the SRA, said: “Contract caterers, whether working with clients in schools or the workplace continue to prove to be among the most innovative and responsive foodservice operators – none more so than Bartlett Mitchell.”
2015 saw bartlett mitchell add more sustainable seafood and free-range meat to its menus as well as adopt dozens of beehives and fund water pumps in Africa.
The caterer beat competition from schools caterer The Brookwood Partnership and boutique B&I caterer Artizian Catering Services.
Artizian was rewarded for its social responsibility yesterday as it won the Food Made Good Award for Society, after it raised thousands for charities including Barnardos and National Autistic Society.
Plymouth University and the University of Manchester both also triumphed in recognition of their outstanding efforts in sustainable catering. Plymouth University was awarded the University Champion award, whilst the University of Manchester won the Best Food Waste Strategy award.
Jamie Oliver was the recipient of this year’s Raymond Blanc Sustainability Hero Award for his ‘unrelenting passion and commitment’ to use food as a force for good and to improve the health of the nation.
Lussmanns Fish & Grill was named the People’s Favourite; East London tapas restaurant Poco was named Independent Restaurant of the Year just six months after opening; and Wahaca was named the Food Made Good Large Group of the Year.
The SRA hosted the Food Made Good Awards, sponsored by Nestlé Professional at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Lindley Hall to celebrate everything exciting about British hospitality businesses, chefs and suppliers doing the extraordinary to make food good.