Love British Food have conducted an interview with Sean Haley, Regional Chair of Sodexo UK and Ireland and CEO service Operations Worldwide. Sodexo, who provide food services and catering to large businesses and public sector clients, are the official partner of Love British Food Fortnight. Held from 21st September to 6th October, British Food Fortnight is the biggest annual, national celebration of British food and drink.
Love British food asked Sean:
Does Sodexo serve traditional British dishes or are development chefs encouraged to create new twists on an old traditional favourite?
Whether our chefs are producing British classics, modern interpretations or more inventive dishes, they are continually innovating. Many of our clients are extremely keen to see exciting new dishes and our chefs have the freedom to produce these.
Our chefs like to create dishes, traditional or innovative, using ingredients from the best producers. Sourcing fresh, seasonal fruit, vegetables, fish and meat from British farmers and producers is important and something that Sodexo is extremely proud of.
Do you have any food trends predictions for the rest of 2019 and into 2020?
The appreciation of artisan products continues to grow and there are some fantastic new products coming into the market which helps set our food service offering apart from others. We have already partnered with a number of SME’s and start-ups and will continue to develop this further.
The rediscovery of ingredients is also an interesting emerging trend with the likes of British heritage ingredients, from ancient grains, to amazing varieties of apples and pears rising in popularity.
The growth in flexitarianism continues to gather pace particularly, the popularity of which is symptomatic of a wider societal trend towards increased reflection and consciousness about what we are eating, how we are living and the impact we are having upon the environment. The impact of this on the food service market is the increasing need to adapt our menus to include a greater proportion of plant-based ingredients.
How much of Sodexo’s ingredients are sourced locally and sustainably in the UK? Does this add to your budgets or are you finding it cost neutral?
When sourcing ingredients it is our ambition to use British produce wherever possible. We know that locally sourced food tends to be fresher and more sustainable and we are committed to sourcing Red Tractor assured products, sustainable fish and products that are in season wherever possible.
The UK is facing uncertain times, particularly within the food and farming industry. Do you believe you can still support and supply British ingredients into the future?
As a significant buyer in the industry, we have a duty of care for stability in the sector and we take this responsibility seriously, although we of course cannot take full responsibility. We select our suppliers carefully and are committed to supporting UK farmers and growers.
Our preparations for Brexit are considered best in class and in relation to supply management our team continues to work proactively with our suppliers to plan and mitigate any negative effects which may arise when the UK leaves the EU.
How would a quality British producer get their premium food products in front of a company such as Sodexo?
At Sodexo we want to be able to offer our clients a diverse, robust, industry leading, innovative supply chain and we encourage suppliers to approach us.
Our buyers and culinary leads are market leading professionals who will assist potential suppliers in any way they can to join our supply chain.
We regularly host meet the buyer events. These events not only provides businesses with the opportunity to showcase their products or services it also provides them with the chance to find out what is required of them to become a supplier to Sodexo.
Sodexo has excellent relationships with many local producers, is this something you remain committed to?
It’s important to us that our suppliers are knowledgeable and passionate about their products and that sustainability and ethical practices are high on their agenda too.
As part of our sustainability commitments we strive to promote local development and source responsibly and to achieve this we know that the relationship we have with producers is of great importance which is why they are at the heart of our supply chain.
What advice would you give to the British farming industry to ensure they are number one supplier of choice to the food service sector? What are the three most important things you recommend British farmers and food producers do?
Any supplier looking to engage with food service providers such as Sodexo must first take the time to research the industry and the organisations they feel their product would suit. For any large food service provider any new supplier must demonstrate that their product(s) are of the highest quality and safe and their processes meet the necessary legislative requirements, particularly in terms of food safety.
Are you optimistic about the future of British food and farming?
Definitely. British products are some of the best and safest in the world. Brexit may be presenting a challenging future but there are new, smaller businesses being created that are developing innovative new products suitable for the food service industry, and if the British food and farming industry continue to embrace new ideas and adapt to stay competitive then there is no reason that industry will not continue to thrive in the future.
For more information of the British Food Fortnight click here!