AWARDS
FOOD FOR LIFE CATERING MARK
For caterers who care about their ingredients ...
When eating out, people want reassurance that their food, and their children's food, is fresh, honest and additive-free. They want to know that the issues they care about, from animal welfare to climate change, have been taken care of. The Food for Life Catering Mark is a Soil Association accrediation scheme to help leading caterers give their customers that reassurance.
The three tiers of Bronze, Silver and Gold allow caterers to make step-wise progress towards greater use of fresh, seasonal, local and organic ingredients, high welfare meat and sustainable fish. Food for Life Catering Mark logos are awarded for use on approved menus, and on any related marketing materials.
The Food for Life Catering Mark is available to caterers across the UK. Caterers in all sectors can apply including local authority and private school meal providers, hospitals, nurseries, sports stadia, workplace canteens and restaurants.
School Food Company have been awarded the Food for Life Catering Mark at Silver standard and are currently the only catering company in the North West catering for schools at this level. School Food Company welcomes the opportunity of working with the Food for Life Partnership and the Soil Association to further develop our menus and our supply chain. For more information on the catering mark click HERE.
MARKET KITCHEN'S LOCAL FOOD HERO
The competition between the 10 National Finalists of Market Kitchen's Local Food Heroes was fierce. However, the judges decided that, with their championing of local produce and unwavering community spirit, Anya Murray and School Food Company team ticked every box required.
School Food Company have succeeded in making free range and organic products go from farm to fork, so children can taste local food at its best, helping them to get excited about what they eat, and get excited about local produce. Their suppliers have benefited in increased sales too, as children often ask their parents to buy products featured in their lunches, so they can enjoy them at home.The expert panel of judges, consisting of Thomasina Miers, Michael Caines, Brian Turner (Chair), Allegra McEvedy and William Sitwell voted unanimously for School Food Company. Celebrity chef, Brian Turner CBE, (chair of the judging panel): "School Food Company win is thoroughly deserved and I am glad that already other schools are taking an interest. This, in my mind, is the kind of scheme that should be set up nationwide to protect the future of our youngsters. Keep it up!"Anya Murray of School Food Company: "This is a fantastic achievement for School Food Company and it just goes to show what can be done using the wealth of local produce available to us here in Cheshire. Thank you to all our suppliers and to the whole school community at Gorsey Bank for their continued support."More information at uktv.co.uk
FOOD FOR LIFE PARTNERSHIP AWARD SCHEME
School Food Company are working closely with Gorsey Bank Primary School to attain Gold Standard under the school awards scheme with the FFLP.
The FFLP is a network of schools and communities across England committed to transforming food culture. The Partnership is lead by the Soil Association with the Focus of Food Campaign, Garden Organic and the Health Education Trust. Together they work to revolutionise school meals, reconnect young people with where their food comes from and inspire families to cook and grow food.Taking up the challenge laid down by Jamie Oliver's school dinners' campaign, the Food for Life Partnership has been funded by the National Lottery over five years from 2007 to help transform food culture in schools across the country.Building on our achievements to date, the FFLP will now help us put even more fresh, local and organic food on the menu and get children, parents and community groups cooking, growing food and visiting local farms.
By joining the FFLP schools receive hands support from FFLP staff to achieve a Food for Life Partnership Gold Mark which will put them at the top of the league table for food culture in school.Anya Murray of School Food Company : "Our involvement with the Food for Life Partnership is simple, we want to inspire, rather than cajole, our young people to eat a healthy, climate-friendly diet by giving them an opportunity to see how food is produced and to cook and grown their own. School Food Company strongly believe that children should be reconnected to their food, where it comes from, how it's produced and why healthy food is important. A crucial part of this is education and making school mealtimes a social and enjoyable experience all round whilst supplying the best possible food within a school meals budget.In an industry that appears to be so spreadsheet focused, this approach to school catering, growing and cooking is revolutionary.
We are proud to be working with the FFLP and Gorsey Bank in actively making a change in the provision of school meals."Gorsey Bank Primary School in Wilmslow has been selected to become one of 180 Flagship Schools and Communities across England that will be recognised as national leaders of food quality and food education - the only school in East Cheshire to claim this honour.Susan Garrod, Head Teacher at Gorsey Bank Primary School: "It is more important than ever before that young people learn in school about the impact of food on their health and that of the planet. On current trends, by 2020 over one quarter of children will be obese and children will have a shorter life expectancy than their parents. A fifth of our climate change impact comes from the food we eat."Gorsey Bank have now received their Bronze Award click HERE to see their achievements to date.
GOLDEN APPLE AWARD
The Golden Apple Award Scheme recognises businesses in the food service sector that make it easier for children to choose healthier meals when dining out. Eating out has become an increasing part of people's lives, so by achieving the standards of the Golden Apple Award, businesses can play a part in helping to improve children's health in the Borough.
This prestigious award was presented by the Health Improvement and Environmental Health Team at Macclesfield Borough council in recognition of the high standards achieved in providing healthy and delicious food for the children of Cheshire.Anya Murray of School Food Company: "This Award was the brainchild of Alison McGovern, Head Chef at Gorsey Bank Primary School. Alison's hard work and commitment has paid dividends and I would like to dedicate this Award to her".Click HERE for more details on this Award.
CHESHIRE RURAL WOMEN'S AWARD
Our Company Director, Anya Murray, was presented with a Cheshire Rural Women's Award, sponsored by Reaseheath College, for her work in the local community with School Food Company and also for her contribution to other local businesses.
13 Awards were made for achievements in areas as diverse as rural business, voluntary and community service, work with parish councils, young people, Women's Institutes and the Arts.This event was organised by a partnership of private, public and voluntary sector organisations led by Cheshire County Council. Gaynor Bowen-Jones, Cheshire County Council's Rural Development Officer: "We are proud to celebrate the achievements of Cheshire's rural women through this seventh awards evening. This event has gone from strength to strength and continues to bring many Cheshire organisations together to pay tribute to women who are making a real difference in our rural communities."