CH&Co has won the ’British Supply’ category award at the inaugural Footprint Awards 2011, held on Thursday 19th May at the RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) in London’s West End. The independent caterers were short listed for two other categories as well ’ the Corporate Social & Environmental Responsibility Award and the Special Achievement Award.
The only awards programme exclusively dedicated to recognising sustainability in the foodservice sector, the Footprint Awards attracted entries from right across the hospitality sector.
The glittering event was the first of its kind in that everything told a story about sustainability, from the menu designed by CH&Co’s food director, the Michelin starred chef, David Cavalier, to the staff uniforms, table linen, fine wines and the use of recycled products for presentation of the food. For example, canap’s for the evening included garden vegetable crudit’s served in terracotta flower pots with edible earth and edible flowers and a spectacular edible ’table arrangement’ of pork scratchings made to look like twigs, served in a vase with Bramley sauce.
A fashion show with an ’up cycling’ theme added to the glamorous occasion.
Commenting on the British Supply Award, Caroline Fry, managing director of CH&Co and its staff catering niche brand, Charlton House, said: ’It is great to get this recognition for our on-going work in supporting British farmers and producers. Traceability, buying locally and in season are hugely important issues for us, not just from an environmental viewpoint but we are always keenly aware that the health of our 60,000 customers is in our hands. Supporting the work of British farmers and producers is equally important, particularly during a challenging economic climate’
Earlier this year the company launched a series of menus loaded with Red Tractor approved products across its restaurants nationwide under one of the most complex certification programmes undertaken by the Assured Food Standards Scheme to date. The Red Tractor logo is the only kite-mark that guarantees standards and traceability throughout the food chain, while giving reassurance to the customer that what they are eating is whole chain British.
