Foodservice Cateys 2016: CSR Award

But 2016 certainly got off to a healthy start for Bartlett Mitchell with its New Year DARE (Delicious and Responsible Eating) campaign seeing sales increase by 11% from 2015. The caterer's engagement on social media also increased by more than 200% as a result of the New Year, New You healthy eating campaign.

Earlier this year, Bartlett Mitchell completed a sustainability hat trick when it was named Food Made Good Caterer of the Year for the third consecutive year. Further successes this year include securing its first Investors in People Gold award after demonstrating a commitment to the development and training of its employees, not to mention earning a place on the shortlist in four categories for this year's Foodservice Cateys and winning three of them.

Sustainability at Bartlett Mitchell is achieved by the integration of social, environmental and economic initiatives. By using the three pillars of sustainability as a framework, it has created a balanced approach to achieving triple bottom-line results for people, planet and profit.

Last year Bartlett Mitchell added more sustainable seafood and free-range meat to its menus, in addition to adopting dozens of beehives and funding water pumps in Africa.

Initiatives include selling bottled water from sustainable Thirsty Planet in Harrogate to help provide clean, safe water to communities in Malawi, and sourcing Fairtrade coffee from a co-operative called Soppexcca in Nicaragua.

Bartlett Mitchell has taken innovative steps to reduce its waste by printing waste- saving rhymes on disposable napkins. The scheme has seen an 11% reduction in waste in a six-month period. Vast improvements on food waste have also been achieved, with a 17% decrease since 2013.

In addition, Bartlett Mitchell conveys its sustainability story to customers with its Read Your Wrap initiative, with messages about what the company does printed on biodegradable paper with vegetable ink.

Bartlett Mitchell is currently conducting a research study with Cardiff University, measuring customers' responses and changes in behaviour if they are educated about the environmental cost of disposable coffee cups.

The company ensures its team members are trained about Bartlett Mitchell's CSR during their introduction, biannual workshops, presentations and through ongoing weekly Cup of Tea training sessions.

What the judges said

"An impressive list of initiatives that are well embedded into the teams."

Caroline Fry, CH&Co Group

"A comprehensive submission demonstrating a clear commitment to sustainability in the broadest sense."

Mark Linehan, formerly of Sustainable Restaurant Association

"Strong entry with tangible evidence for 2015. Love the rhymes on the serviettes."

Wan Mak, Sodexo

Kimberley Aplin, Sodexo

Shortlisted

• Bartlett Mitchell
• Artizian
• Vacherin

Past winners

• 2015 Vacherin
• 2014 Compass Group UK & Ireland
• 2013 Sodexo UK & Ireland