Food for Life Ken Campbell Facilities Manager

Background Deliver catering to 9 High Schools,53 Primary Schools, 4 SEN’s,3 Nurseries, A range of Social Services day and residential care facilities Prepare and cook approx. 1.8 million meals per year Currently procure foods via Scotland Excel frameworks Existing framework does not consider sustainability as a key measure Menus meet nutritional standards set down by Scottish Government

Perceptions Assumption that it was more expensive to deliver Time consuming to manage Not worth the effort No added value to existing business Lack of knowledge of Soil association

Why ? More requests from customers for ethical and environmentally friendly food The team wanted to achieve the accreditation During times of adversity we needed to demonstrate other quality benefits to our service It is the right thing to do !!

Journey Met with soil association team Created a buy in for the team Empowered the team to make the decision Empowered the team to engage with supply partners Once started myths began to disappear Met with supply partners and shared our goals

Timescales First meeting September 2012 Assessments November 2012 External audit January 2013 Award expected early 2013

Challenges Supplier partners Adding Products to contract frameworks as “core” items Initial probing with Suppliers sourcing products Baked Beans !! Favourite product with children but assessment requires us to make our own “cowboy style” “ we are still awaiting the job description for a cowboy cook”

Outcomes Chicken, new product now UK sourced Previous was imported from Brazil! Also 10% cheaper Local producers delighted at opportunity Marketing of school meals in community a better local message Highlights to Local Members and the General Public the impact school meals have on the community partners championing local food Raising the profile in North Ayrshire of the qualities of local,seasonal farm assured produce

THANKS