The good and the great of foodservice and hospitality operators and the industry supply chain gathered last night for the “Footprint Festival” themed 6th Anniversary Footprint Awards 2015 at Hyatt Regency – The Churchill.
Sustainable Use of Natural Resources sponsored by Gram Hoshizaki
This category focuses on the efficient management and use of natural resource – be that water, fuel, land, energy to meet the needs we have today and help sustain those resources for use by future generations.
Judges in this category focus on significant provable reduction of use of natural resources, impact, lifecycle, efficient management, renewable resources and technology.
Shortlisted were:
- Coca-Cola Enterprises
- Eau de Vie
- The Garden Cider Company
- The Rhug Estate
The Runner Up: Coca Cola Enterprises for their entry about reducing their water impacts
Judges comments: "A very strong entry. They have created a culture that should keep delivering sustainable progress over a number of years in a range of areas. We look forward to future entries as real progress is made towards the 2020 targets set out by the company”
The Winner: The Rhug Estate for their entry about making the estate more sustainable through renewable heat and power generation
Judges comments: “Great project bringing farming and energy conservation together. Fantastic approach to circular farming methods and demonstrating the best of local provenance.”
Waste Management & Reduction Award sponsored by Greene King & SWR
Entrants were judged on their work to effectively manage and reduce waste – food, water, packaging and other resource.
Judges were looking for clear and accurate processes, collaboration, demonstrable, tangible and provable difference, staff engagement and development of infrastructure.
Shortlisted companies in this category were
- The House of Lords
- Toast Ale
- Vegware & BNY Mellon
- Winnow Solutions
The Runner Up: Winnow Solutions for their entry ‘Revolutionary technology to cut food waste in half’
Judges Comments: “Saving customers £2 million in cost is a huge achievement.”
The Winner: Vegware and Aramark at BNY Mellon for their entry ‘Helping a financial service firm go zero waste’
Judges Comments: “Strong visible project delivering clear benefits across the total supply chain & guest. Great collaboration, great initiative.”
Environmentally Efficient Logistics sponsored by innocent drinks
Food miles are a concept understood by the consumer hence the amount of attention this category has received over the last few years. But rising fuel costs has highlighted the importance of efficiency. The efficient planning and execution of logistics is something this industry pays great attention too.
Judges focus on reduced emissions, strategies, and method of transport, efficiency and collaboration.
Shortlisted in this group were
- Bidvest Foodservice
- Kuehne & Nagel
- McDonalds Restaurants with Martin Brower UK
- Sodexo
The Runner Up: McDonald’s Restaurants with Martin Brower for their entry ‘Backhauling and biodiesel’
Judges Comments: “Excellent. Dealt with a problem and multiplied by 1250 stores that's a huge GHG saving. A great example of maintaining strong long term supplier relationships. Great work and forward-thinking solutions”
The Winner: Sodexo UK & Ireland for their entry ‘Chilled product consolidation programme’
Judges Comments: “Strong project looking at every aspect of a complex supply chain to benefit end users. Excellent submission. Good to see reference to how using a little extra packaging can reduce food waste. This is very well thought through and seems to be totally integrated into the business”
Economic Sustainability Award sponsored by Johnsons Stalbridge
Sustainability and corporate social responsibility are too often seen as cost items in the annual budget. And with squeezing budgets, companies are cutting costs in areas that are not seen to be generating revenue. Recent experience has shown that contrary to negative perceptions, commercial advantage can be built through better communication of company policy on CSR and the execution of environmental/sustainability strategies and the fiscal benefits of these have been realised on the bottom line.
Judges focused on how a sustainability strategy or policy has lead to an increase in revenues, whether the sustainability strategy or policy has increased profitability, where the approach to sustainability made savings and where clients and customers have cited sustainability as a major factor in their decision to buy.
Shortlisted were:
- JJ Food Service
- Power Solutions
- A collaboration between Waterscan and Greene King
The Runner Up: JJ Foodservice for its commitment towards and installation of renewable energy in operations
Judges Comments: “Expansion of local range, introduction of solar panels and electric vehicles, increase in sales…enough said”
The Winner: Waterscan in collaboration with Greene King for the successful strategy reducing water usage across the pub estate
Judges Comments: “Some really impressive financial savings achieved. Excellent campaign. Water is rapidly becoming a key issue and Greene King have taken an excellent lead on this. We hope others will focus on water”
Responsible Sourcing Award sponsored by Headline Sponsor Nestlé Professional
The Responsible Sourcing Award is all about sourcing effectively and without damaging the environment and future supply chain – in other words it’s about food security. But as an industry that has sourcing at the heart of all of its operations it can be a challenge.
This category is hotly contested and judges are looking for minimal environmental impact, investment, strategy, continuous scrutiny and long term plans and a net positive effect.
Shortlisted were:
- Daylesford Organic
- Lusso
- The National Trust
- River Cottage
The Runner Up: Daylesford for its entry ‘Responsible Sourcing; a fully integrated and organic supply chain’
Judges Comments: “This category has a number of strong applications, the level of detail in the submission helps to tell a great story”
The Winner: National Trust for its entry ‘A sustainable, fit-for-purpose supply chain’
Judges Comments: “Great initiative, thought through with a long term strategy and goal - commendable.”
Sustainable Supplier Award sponsored by Tate & Lyle Sugars
Again one of the most hotly contended categories. In hardship businesses are always looking to keep costs down, maintain employment yet boost profit. Many businesses have used this opportunity to look at sustainability and their impact and have adjusted working practices to fulfill this criteria. This category is all about the innovators and those that really scrutinize the responsibility of their product.
Judges looked for evidence of how the product has benefitted the customers, shown economic benefits, and consistency of supply, social impact, and innovation.
Shortlisted in this Category were:
- Brakes
- Ethical Shellfish Company
- GrowUp Urban Farms
- London Linen
- Nestle Professional
- Winterhalter
The Runner Up: GrowUp Urban Farms for its entry ‘GrowUp Greens: Sustainable Food for a Local Market
Judges Comments: “Great application, commended for responding to the criteria”
The Winner: The London Linen Group for the entry ‘Achievement of Closed Loop Supply Chain
Judges Comments: “Fabulous submission - highly commendable. Fantastic collaborative approach to an industry challenge. Demonstrating 'positive disruption' to a sector where others would be forced to follow.”
Sustainable Equipment Manufacturer sponsored by Hyatt Regency
The Foodservice industry consumes a vast amount of energy and joined up thinking is only just emerging. The equipment to help preserve energy and other resource is vital.
Judges in this category were looking for design, materials, lifecycle, proof of efficiency and an operational track record.
Shortlisted in the category in alphabetical order were:
- Eau de Vie
- Manitowoc
- Meiko
- Winnow
The Runner Up: Eau de Vie for its entry ‘Tapping into Sustainable Savings’ highlighting the savings of filtered tap water over bottled production
Judges Comments: “We can really see how this can work in certain hospitality outlets and is a powerful story for the consumer”.
The Winner: Manitowok with Convotherm 4 Range Combi Steamers
Judges Comments: “Clear results that stakeholders can relate to and delivering benefits. An amazing range and have achieved some excellent energy efficiencies. More important is the excellent cooking results which mean less wasted food.”
Stakeholder Engagement Award sponsored by Bidvest Foodservice & Plate2Planet.co.uk
Stakeholder Engagement is hard to measure and this category is all about the most effective engagement programme aimed at stakeholders both inside and outside of the business.
Judges focused on communication plans and execution, demonstrable buy-in, availability, format and channels of engagement, activities and recognition.
Shortlisted were:
- Bartlett Mitchell
- Compass UK & Ireland
- McDonalds Restaurants
- Unilever Food Solutions
The Runner Up: Bartlett Mitchell with Read your Wrap
Judges Comments: “What a lovely simple idea of self portrayal, whilst engaging customers on your sustainable message. Cost effective & powerful ...”
The Winner: McDonald’s Restaurants for Planet Champion
Judges Comments: “This shows how a large corporate can aim to deliver change on a large scale using different ways of engagement. The end result is guests see it and care! Really good staff involvement and a local initiative to engage external stakeholders and customers on an incredibly important issue - litter. It's really good to see a company whose name is often plastered across litter doing something about it beyond their own store frontage/high street location. Commendable. An incredibly strong entry. Planet champion is a great way to brand a project such as this to deliver the best employee engagement.”
Sustainable Innovation in Packaging sponsored by Pro2Pac
As a vast consumer of packaging, the challenge the foodservice packaging manufacturers face are materials, quantities, food safety and waste streams.
Judges in this category were looking for reductions in quantity, use of materials, re-use strategies, communications around re-use and information that helps regulators and operators mitigate impact. They were also looking for innovation in materials used and initiatives to help reduce food waste.
Shortlisted were:
- Aramark
- International Paper Foodservice Europe
- Vegware
The Runner Up: Aramark for their entry ‘Maximising Sustainable Packaging’
Judges Comments: “Really good common sense Management approach to reducing usage and therefore waste. Great initiative”.
The Winner: International Paper Foodservice Europe for the plastic-free bucket for KFC
Judges Comments: “This is a breakthrough and has been achieved in conjunction with developing the client’s brand values. Given the cups controversy this is a timely product. Communication to mills regarding the ability to process with mixed papers will be key. Good innovative solution to an everyday problem.”
Social Impact & Diversity Award sponsored by Kuehne & Nagel
This was a new category year before last and within two years has become one of the most hotly contested categories.
This award seeks to reward social initiatives that have a positive impact on the business, its community and stakeholders.
Judges looked for impact, innovation, expertise gained as a result, diversity, involvement and tangible successful feedback.
Shortlisted were:
- City of Cardiff Council
- The Clink Restaurant at HMP Cardiff
- Sodexo UK & Ireland
The Runner Up: Clink Restaurant at HMP Cardiff
Judges Comments: “Really impressive programme, again tackling an important issue and providing opportunity. Impressive re-offending reduction rates - well done.”
The Winner: Cardiff Council for their School Holiday Enrichment Programme
Judges Comments: “An excellent scheme targeting really important issues in a very engaging and direct way. Well done. A 'humbling' entry, changing deprived young children’s lives and leading the way.”
Sustainability in Education sponsored by TUCO
Sustainability in education is of enormous importance and TUCO have been pushing the agenda.
Sustainability in education is vital due to the supply chain reach, sheer scale of operation but also in the impact it has on influencing the culture of future generations.
Judges looked at sourcing, processes, strategy, implementation of initiatives and most importantly the measurable advantages gained through responsible practice.
Shortlisted were:
- University of Brighton
- University of Leeds Catering Services
- University of Wolverhampton
The Runner Up: University of Brighton for its strategy strategy 'Field to fork - bringing the veg back home’ that gives more opportunity to smaller, local growers and farmers.
Judges Comments: “Really like the strong local relationship between University & Grower”
The Winner: University of Leeds Catering Services for embedding sustainability throughout its catering operations
Judges Comments: “Fantastic project results for all stakeholders. Excellent balanced entry. Not over claiming - have taken a common sense approach and focused on a number of things they can do well. Also good to see further investment is planned. Similarly useful initiatives, with added customer feedback. Well done Leeds!”
2016 Community Vote sponsored by Prestige Purchasing
The purpose of the Community Vote is a democratic process for the constituents in the foodservice community to either vote for a sutomer, supplier or even in their own capacity as consumers for their regular pub or favourite eatery. The Winner is a the business that achieves most votes.
Those businesses shortlisted were:
- Cros Lanes Organis Farm, Barnard Castle
- Kingfisher Fish & Chips, Plymouth
- The Kitchen (Lakamka Workers Co-operative), Bolton
- MakeLunch
- The Pines Garden, Dover
- The Real Junk Food Project, Doncaster
- Simpsons Fish & Chip Shop, Cheltenham
- The Surplus Supper Club, event catering arm of FareShare
The Runner Up: The Pines Garden, Dover
The Winner: The Real Junk Food Project, Doncaster
2016 Special Achievement Award sponsored by Essential Cuisine
This award recognises individual contribution to environmental, social and economic sustainability. This is a hotly contested category and one that attracts a great deal of attention every year. Past winners of this category include Raymond Blanc, Cyrus Todiwala, Anne Pierce MBE, Pret A Manger's Nicki Fisher and last years winner Allegra McEvedy MBE for commitment to fair trade.
Shortlisted were:
- Arthur Potts Dawson, The People’s Supermarket
- Gelf Alderson, River Cottage Cookery School
- Juliette Williams & Stuart Trent, Environmental Justice Foundation
- Justin Home, Tiny Leaf
- Martin Smith, University of Manchester
- Callum Roberts, University of York
- Richard Lochead, Scottish Government
The Winner as voted for by the judges: Gelf Alderson
Gelf Alderson is Head Chef at River Cottage. He runs the kitchens and the busy cooking school and is key to communicating sustainability and the River Cottage sustainable credentials to clients of the cooking school and guests. Visitors gain an insight into practical sustainable and ethical sourcing, growing and animal husbandry.
Sustainability needs individuals who can communicate sustainability in a practical, down to earth and logical manner. Gelf is such an individual. He is both engaging and charismatic and from our experience leaves visitors with a clear understanding and heads full of ideas to implement back in their own organisations.
