Press Release

For immediate release: [Date]

Word count:

Images attached:[up to 3 jpgs with captions – sent as attachments along with this press release]

[Catchy headline, ie

Local caterergoes straight to the top of the class]

[NAME OF CATERER] achieves prestigious Gold Food for Life Catering Mark for serving fresh and healthy meals in[place].

[Name of caterer] in [place] [has been/is the first/second caterer in the county/town/sector to] achieve the Soil Association’s Gold Food for Life Catering Mark for serving fresh and healthy meals made with local and organic ingredients.

More and more, people want to know where their food comes from and how it has been made. The Gold Food for Life Catering Mark guarantees nutrition, animal welfare, the environment and staff well-being are considered in all decisions. After a rigorous on-site inspection, [Name of caterer] have proved that they prepare meals using at least 15% organic ingredients as well as a selection of ingredients produced locally or in the UK, and are making healthy eating the easy option.

[Short paragraph about your company. You can include information about specific contracts you have gained the Catering Mark for, meal numbers per day; your commitment to fresh food; specific achievements you want to draw attention to. Add information about local/organic food you are serving too].

[Insert quote/amend text on what it means to achieve your Silver award, why it’s important etc., for example:

Commenting on their achievement, Graham Kerr, Catering Manager at The Galloping Gourmet in Central City says:

‘We’re delighted that our commitment to serving fresh, local and organic food has been recognised by the Gold Food for Life Catering Mark.We hope our customers will enjoy their meals all the more knowing that we use a range of ingredients produced in the UK, as well as some organic produce.’]

Martin Sawyer, Chief Executive of Soil Association Certification, says:

‘The Gold Catering Mark is a fantastic achievement so it’s brilliant to see [name of caterer] gaining recognition for serving great fresh meals made with seasonal, local and organic ingredients. Serving menus to Gold Catering Mark standards can significantly reduce carbon emissions and supports local businesses so this is a win-win for planet-friendly food and the local economy. [name of caterer] is leading the way in the drive to improve food culture in the UK.’

- ENDS –

For further information please contact:

[Please add your name, job title, phone number and email address, plus your company website address and any social media links your company use]

Lucy Gatward, Catering Mark Marketing Officer

0117 314 5130 | |

Notes to editors:

[Add a short history of your company/MD/other relevant information here, so that newspaper editors can pad an article out if they want to]

[1] The New Economics Foundation undertook an independent evaluation and found that for every £1 spent on Food for Life menus, there is a £3 return to the local economy. Full report here

[2] More than 1.5 Catering Mark meals are served every weekday across the UK’s hospitals, schools, care homes, staff restaurants and in cafes.

3] The Food for Life Catering Mark Standards are:

Bronze

  • Meals contain no undesirable food additives or hydrogenated fats
  • 75% of dishes are freshly prepared
  • Meat is from farms which satisfy UK welfare standards
  • Eggs are from cage-free hens
  • Menus are seasonal
  • Training is provided for all catering staff
  • No GM ingredients are used
  • Free drinking water is available
  • No endangered fish are served
  • Information about where the food has come from is on display
  • Suppliers meet food safety standards
  • School caterers meet government guidelines for food and nutrition

Silver and Gold

The Silver and Gold Catering MarkStandards work on a flexible points system, which rewards every penny spent on ethical, environmentally friendlyandlocal ingredients, and recognises steps to offer healthier menus.

  • At Silver, at least 5% of ingredients are organic and a selection of local or UK produce is served. A number of steps are taken to make meals healthier.
  • At Gold, at least 15% of ingredients are organic, a significant proportion of the ingredients caterers use must be from the UK or produced locally and further steps are taken to make healthy eating easier.

For more information about the Food for Life Catering Mark and a full list of organisations which have achieved it, as well as the latest meal numbers, please see our web pages: