The accreditation recognises the commitment of both parties to ensuring that the menus focus on high quality, freshly-prepared food using British and locally-sourced seasonal produce.
Lindley Venue Catering – the specialist sports stadia catering division of The Lindley Group - has been the catering partner at the Ashton Gate Stadium since 2001. This is the second Soil Association Silver Food for Life Catering Mark to be awarded to The Lindley Group.
Anna Standen - The Lindley Group’s corporate & social responsibility manager, said: “We are delighted with this achievement and are proud that, once again, The Lindley Group is leading the way and raising the bar when it comes to food quality and sustainability - this time by creating the first sports stadium hospitality menus in England to qualify for this accreditation.
Doug Harman, Bristol City FC’s executive director, added: “We’re really pleased with the focus the whole of the Lindley team has given to developing our hospitality menus – you can genuinely taste the difference. It’s fantastic to have Lindley’s efforts recognised and enjoy the kudos of being the first sports stadium in England to receive the Soil Association’s Silver Catering Mark. It really is a great endorsement of and testament to the quality and standard of our hospitality and event menus.”
Explaining the importance of the Catering Mark, Rob Sexton, chief executive of Soil Association Certification, explained: "The Silver Catering Mark is a fantastic achievement which recognises the vital role that fresh, local and organic food play in healthy, planet-friendly menus. Serving menus to Silver Catering Mark standards supports local businesses and reassures customers that all meals are free from GM ingredients.”