A key promise to chefs by Unilever Food Solutions

Ensuring that all its key vegetables and herbs are ripened in the sun and hand picked at their peak for a natural flavour, KNORR has recreated its range of professional solutions of gravies, demi glace and sauce mixes to deliver authenticity, consistency and a premium taste, says Unilever. Growing for the Future Unilever is the only food company that has been at the top of the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes for over 12 years. Its commitment to the Growing for the Future programme, which covers the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainability, is another addition to its sustainability credentials. The company also adheres to 11 indicators for the Growing for the Future programme, which include ensuring maintenance of soil fertility and biodiversity. With its continued effort and commitment, the company aims to have 100% of all KNORR vegetable and herb suppliers within Europe enrolled in the programme by 2012. Through this initiative, Unilever Food Solutions helps to guarantee the growth of top quality ingredients whilst continuing to create a 'better planet'. In doing so, the company retains long-term partnerships with its farmers, enabling them to sustain their livelihoods with an income and improve their living conditions. Reduced packaging and waste But it doesn't stop there. The decision to cut down on KNORR packaging has also resulted in a reduction of carbon emissions, not to mention the impact it can have on reducing wastage in the kitchen with chefs reusing the packaging for other storage. The new packaging is also easy to recycle therefore helping chefs meet waste targets and corporate social responsibility policies. Claire Sullivan, marketing director, Unilever Food Solutions, commented: "We decided to pledge 'Better Planet' as one of our Four Promises as it's such a large part of what we do. We know that today it's not enough for caterers and chefs to just have great tasting dishes, they need to understand how the products are produced and if the ingredients are ethically sourced. "By working closely with our farmers we understand the difference sustainable farming can have on their livelihoods, as well as the impact it has on our business as a whole. It's great to see chefs are just as keen as us to become actively involved in offering an ethical alternative on their menus, and support the work we're doing."