Riverside Catering retain their Bronze Food for Life Served Here Award

Riverside Catering, who are a part of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, serve approx. 9,300 Food for Life Served Here Bronze meals each day across their primary and special school portfolio. This external recognition has helped them to showcase their commitment to good quality, sustainable food.  

We spoke to Karen Hickey, Principle Catering Manager, to find out more about their Food for Life Served Here Award.

What was your original motivation to achieve an award?  

Riverside Catering have always supplied quality meals to its customers. The Food for Life Served here award is external recognition of the standard of food on offer and testament to the hard work and dedication of our catering teams.  

How many Food for Life Served Here meals do you serve per weekday?  We are currently serving approximately 9,300 Food for Life meals per day across our primary and special school portfolio. 

How did you find the process of gaining the award?  

The process of gaining the award is, in my opinion, quite straight forward.  All the information required is already available through your local suppliers. 

What impact has being awarded a Food for Life Served Here Award had on your organisation?   

The Food for Life Served Here Award is independent verification of our commitment to quality food. The service ensure that schools are aware of the award and the commitment to their students health that this demonstrates. 

Are there any unexpected benefits to holding a Food for Life Served Here Award? 

In partnership with our colleagues in Public Health, Riverside Catering are working towards the Sustainable Food Places award. Being a Food for Life Served Here catering provider is a key element of helping the council to achieve this. This process is joining a whole host of council services into one group called the Rotherham Food Network and will ensure that quality and sustainable food is firmly on the plates of our primary and special school children.  

What nugget of wisdom would you pass on to a Food for Life Served Here Award-holder?

Be confident in the knowledge that you are doing the best for your customers, championing quality food, ensuring high animal welfare standards and playing your part in sustaining the Environment.