CH&Co business and industry chief executive Caroline Fry said: “We are delighted to have achieved certification from the MSC. Having witnessed the success of initiatives such as Ugly Fish Friday, it seemed logical that we should aim to uphold these standards across all of our businesses.
“Having robust sustainability credentials makes good business sense and is a concept that employees and clients want. We’re delighted that we have turned this concept into a realistic achievement.”
She added that the MSC certification was a significant achievement for the CH&Co business given the diversity of its offering, which ranged from day visitor catering for venues such as ZSL London Zoo, fine dining, high end event hospitality and traditional Livery company dining to high volume workplace meals.
The business units that now carry the MSC certification are Charlton House, Lusso, Chester Boyd, ITA and Ampersand.
To get MSC certification, CH&Co had to undertake independent audits in line with the MSC Chain of Custody Standard which involves reviews of its traceability system, demonstrating that MSC-certified fish does not get mixed up with non-certified fish at any stage of the production and handling process.
CH&Co business units can now display the MSC Ecolabel on-menu alongside MSC certified fish dishes.
George Clark, UK commercial manager from Marine Stewardship Council says: “CH&Co has made a remarkable achievement. It has demonstrated that having a sustainable sourcing strategy can be good for business as well as good for the environment.
“Putting MSC labelled fish on the menu not only means that those fish served are certified sustainable, it also ensures diners recognise which dishes are the ethical choice and helps them to recognise the commitment CH&Co has made.”