The award was presented to BaxterStorey general manager Alan Ratcliffe and operations manager Scott Nolan by Sarah Duley, head of food at Soil Association Scotland, at Glasgow Caledonian University. Combined, these sites serve an estimated 222,000 meals each year.
The Food for Life Scotland (FFLS) programme, led by Soil Association Scotland and funded by Scottish Government since 2012, provides a framework through which local authorities and public sector sites can ensure they are serving good food. This is done by meeting a set of standards to achieve the FFLSH award at bronze, silver or gold level.
Duley said: “The BaxterStorey teams at Glasgow Caledonian University and City of Glasgow College do a fantastic job of connecting with local producers and developing their menus in line with the Food for Life Served Here bronze award standards. We would like to thank them for all their hard work and for showing what can be achieved in public sector catering.
“We're delighted to see higher and further education sites achieving the Food for Life Served Here Award. The Food for Life Scotland team can offer support to public sector caterers across Scotland, to follow in the footsteps of both Glasgow Caledonian University and City of Glasgow College, as well as our 15 local authority award holders across Scotland.”
To achieve a bronze accolade caterers must ensure:
- Meals comply with national standards or guidelines on food and nutrition
- At least 75% of dishes on the menu are freshly prepared (on site or at a local hub kitchen) from unprocessed ingredients
- All meat is from farms which satisfy UK animal welfare standards
- No fish are served from the Marine Conservation Society ‘fish to avoid’ list
- Eggs are from free range hens
- No undesirable additives or artificial trans fats are used
- No genetically modified ingredients are used
- Free drinking water is prominently available
- Menus are seasonal and in-season produce is highlighted
- Information is on display about food provenance
- Menus provide for all cultural and dietary needs
- All suppliers have been verified to ensure they apply appropriate food safety standards
- Catering staff are trained in fresh food preparation and understand how Food for Life Served Here works
Nolan added: “I’m thrilled our teams have been recognised for their commitment to serving fresh, nutritious meals that promote health, sustain the environment, and support the local economy. We are continuously innovating our food offer and this award motivates us further to continue creating hospitality experiences that positively impact our customers and communities."