Supplier opinion – ethical accreditations will help win back consumer trust in the food chain
The responsible buying agenda for foodservice companies has not yet reached its conclusion.
I believe a reliance on ethical accreditation bodies such as the FSA, Red Tractor, the Soil Association and Freedom Food will underpin our ability to prove we are not hoodwinking the consumer, alongside total transparency in procurement.
But proving your credentials to your customers has always been an issue. Foodservice businesses should be able to monitor their unique responsible sourcing goals and demonstrate their current position and commitment to improvement - but so many are unable to do so.
It's a complex issue: there are many facets to consider when buying food-related goods and services, and no two food service organisations are the same - their business profiles, their food offers and, above all, their customers will be different.
Organisations have to concentrate on what's most important to their buying positions - whether that's provenance, food miles, seasonality, waste management, or a combination thereof.
We believe we've cracked it with a flexible initiative we call "Green10" which represents a starting point, a halfway house or even an end game for organisations that want to prove their buying credentials in these difficult times.
Visit http://www.greenten.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">www.greenten.co.uk and you'll see what I mean.
Andy Badger, managing director, Acquire Services