Sodexo named sustainable business of the year at prestigious Cateys awards
Sustainability Director, Claire Atkins Morris collects the Sustainable Business award
Sodexo UK & Ireland was named Sustainable Business of the Year last night at the Cateys awards held at JW Grosvenor House in London.
Known as the Oscars of the hospitality industry, the Cateys honour exceptional talent and pioneering businesses, recognising the achievements of individuals and organisations that have made a significant contribution to the industry.
The Sustainable Business Award honours a business that has taken the most innovative steps to minimise their impact on the environment, while contributing to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, embedding sustainability within its operations.
Judges highlighted Sodexo’s ambitious efforts in reducing supply chain emissions and halving food waste, setting a benchmark for sustainability in the industry and collaborating widely to deliver continuous improvement.
Comments from the judges included: “Sodexo continues to inspire others to follow, delivering real impact at scale” and “An incredibly comprehensive submission showing the breadth of initiatives being actioned and the clear scale of the impact the changes can have”.
Every day Sodexo serves around one million meals to customers in the UK and Ireland across a wide range of settings from corporate, education, and healthcare through to large sporting events. This recognition reflects the company’s purposeful approach to delivering food, hospitality and FM services, ensuring its growth and operations are sustainable and positively impact the communities in which it operates.
We are incredibly proud to receive this award, the Cateys attract entries from a wide range of hospitality businesses who are doing amazing sustainability work.
As a purpose-led business we are committed to working towards net zero, further embedding sustainability into our operations and creating greater social mobility and opportunities for all.
The breadth of our business and services can be a challenge to recording our impact and taking actions, but our values and commitment to improving quality of life ensures we maintain momentum.
Sodexo has been working to actively decarbonise its operations since 2010; securing early validation from the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and embedding a net zero culture.
Its collaborative approach includes its net zero supply chain engagement strategy; galvanising client and stakeholder support through its Appetite for Action campaign and the thriving community of practice; as well as employee green skills training, culinary competitions focusing on sustainable meals, and motivating customers to make informed sustainable food choices with carbon labelling and programmes that nudge guests towards sustainable options.
Sustainable food is central to Sodexo’s menus in every setting. For example, its Modern Recipe workplace offer has been curated with sustainability at its core, featuring plant-forward menus full of seasonal ingredients, with pop-up events frequently held showcasing locally-sourced products.
Earlier this year Sodexo’s schools business was recognised as one of the country’s leading providers of healthy, sustainable school meals in the first ever School Contract Caterer Ranking by ProVeg, Sodexo in second place and its subsidiary Alliance in Partnership, fourth.
Winning this award is testament to the hard work of our teams across the country who every day are delivering our services with a net zero mindset.
Whether that is utilising our WasteWatch programme to reduce food waste or serving delicious and nutritious sustainable meals our customers love.
We continue to do all we can to support them, our clients and our supply partners, and together we can make a difference in a way that is responsible, sustainable and enjoyable.
Sodexo’s innovative, forward-thinking net zero supply chain engagement strategy which combines guidance, collaboration and mentorship has been recognised at a number of awards including the edie awards, Reuters Sustainability Awards and National Sustainability Awards. Find out more here
Find out more on Sodexo's net zero 2040 journey