ESS Government Services, specialist provider of foodservice and facilities management to central government, secure environments and emergency services clients, has achieved Soil Association ‘Food for Life Served Here’ Bronze certification at its Senedd Cymru contract.
The certification verifies that ESS serves healthy, sustainable meals across the contract, highlighting the company’s commitment to supporting customer wellbeing and the environment through the food it purchases and the meals it provides to customers.
Food for Life Served Here certified meals are freshly prepared using ingredients that are free from additives, artificial trans fats and GM ingredients.
ESS chefs work with the company’s registered nutritionists to reduce the fat, saturated fat, sugar and salt in recipes. This is supported by the signposting of healthier options in restaurants and a wider wellbeing programme including webinars, marketing collateral and a regular Wellness Magazine to help customers make informed choices.
All meat served can be traced back to the farm of origin and meets or exceeds UK animal welfare standards, eggs are free range, fish is sustainable and menus make the most of seasonal ingredients, reducing the environmental impact of the service.
ESS works with an established network of Welsh suppliers and prides itself on the use of Welsh produce in the contract, with popular dishes including leek and potato soup, Welsh lamb cawl, Welsh potato and cheese filo pie, Celtic Pride minced beef and potato hotpot and Welsh lamb and crunchy steamed vegetable stir fry.
ESS has delivered the catering and hospitality contract at Senedd Cymru since September 2022.
Janet Finch-Saunders MS, the Senedd’s Commissioner for Sustainable Development, commented:
“It was an absolute pleasure to be a part of the award ceremony with the Soil Association. The Senedd has rightly been recognised for its sustainability and use of fresh delicious produce.
“It is vital now more than ever that we protect and promote Welsh food security. We must ensure that our food production is sustainable and works to protect our farmers, the very people who produce our much-needed food.
“I thank the Soil Association for their recognition and look forward to what the future holds in our Senedd restaurant.”
Caron Longden, Head of Business Development at Food for Life, commented:
“We would like to congratulate Senedd Cymru on achieving Bronze Food for Life Served Here certification. All of us at the Soil Association are proud to be supporting your clear commitment to sourcing and serving food that is better for climate, nature and health. You are leading the way in Wales with achieving Food for Life Served Here certification.”
Ronnie Kelman, Managing Director – ESS Energy, Government & Infrastructure, added:
“I’m delighted that our commitment to serving healthy, sustainable food has been recognised by the Soil Association ‘Food for Life Served Here’ Bronze certification at Senedd Cymru. We’re passionate about contributing to the health of people and the planet – from the chefs in our kitchens to our nutrition, sustainability and purchasing experts, everyone is working together to achieve these goals. We look forward to continuing on this journey with our clients as we work towards our target of achieving Climate Net Zero by 2030.”
Pictured: Hannah Caswell - Soil Association, Janet Finch-Saunders MS - Senedd Cymru, Rob Coward - ESS
