Food Made Good award for Brookwood

New initiatives from education caterer Brookwood Partnership leads to 12% increase on overall sustainability rating

Posted by Stephanie Broad | February 10, 2016 | Catering & hospitality

Education caterer The Brookwood Partnership has achieved the top level three-star Food Made Good Rating from The Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA), increasing its overall rating by 12% to an overall score of 82%.

Having become the first schools’ caterer to achieve the rating in 2014, the CSR team have implemented new initiatives over the last 12 months, as a mark of its commitment to being a sustainable business. 

The SRA rating has been referred to, by The Sunday Times as the ‘Michelin Stars of Sustainability’. Brookwood’s overall score of 82% is determined from an assessment of 14 key sustainability criteria, divided across the three pillars of sourcing, society and the environment. Brookwood increased its score across all three.

The highest increase was within the environment assessment, in which Brookwood gained a 19% increase. This was achieved through a ‘no air-freight’ policy for all imported produce and using the UK’s first steam laundry, which reduces water use by 70%.

Helping pupils to know more about healthy eating and where their food comes from also led to the caterer scoring 100% in the healthy eating section. The latest innovation being Fisherman Finn - an interactive initiative that is helping children understand about sustainable fishing and learn more about the fish they are eating. 

Managing Partner, Kate Martin, said: “It is great that our healthy eating and sustainable practice initiatives are getting this level of recognition. By introducing interactive initiatives such as Fisherman Finn, we are really helping children understand the importance of eating healthily and knowing more about where their food comes from. I am absolutely delighted that our on-going commitment in all areas of sustainability has helped to retain our 3 star rating for the second year running.” 

Mark Linehan, Managing Director of the SRA, said: “All food service businesses have a huge responsibility to serve sustainably sourced food that doesn’t cost the earth. Serving 45,000 meals every school day places an extra responsibility on Brookwood. The company has accepted that challenge and with the various new initiatives it’s implemented, demonstrated a fantastic commitment to ensure the next generation enjoys good food and understands what it is.”

www.brookwood-ptnrs.com