Sodexo secures Red Tractor certification

The company said the award demonstrates its widespread commitment to supplying customers with quality produce sourced from British farms. From today, 450 sites in Sodexo's education, healthcare and defence sectors will be providing milk and cream and fruit and vegetables that have been produced to Red Tractor standards at every critical link in the supply chain. This ensures that the products are fully traceable from field to fork. Furthermore, it means that all of Sodexo's suppliers, processing plants and, where relevant, animal welfare, will have been independently inspected. Only recently, Sodexo announced that it was to expand Aspretto, its fair trade-based hot beverage offer (tea and coffee) offer, to client sites throughout the world following completion of a successful introductory pilot on 20 sites in five countries. This came in addition to the news that Sodexo has become the first school meals provider to achieve Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) accreditation across multiple school contracts in England and Wales. Michelle Hanson, commercial director, Sodexo UK and Ireland, said: "We are delighted to be in a position to make this announcement. As part of our sustainable procurement strategy, it is incredibly important for us to support British farmers as much as possible and, via the Red Tractor scheme, we are able to provide our customers with a guarantee that their food has reached their plate from the most ethical and sustainable British sources. The work doesn't stop here as we are currently in the process of further enhancing our sustainable procurement activities by working with a number of other partners."