Compass Group UK & Ireland, the UK’s largest food and support services company, is making significant progress in its health and wellbeing targets. In its second year of reporting, the company has achieved a further reduction in salt, fat, and saturated fat in thousands of recipes, while also increasing the procurement and serving of vegetables. This is a positive step towards promoting healthier eating habits among its 50,000 strong team and the millions of meals served annually in the UK and Ireland.
The company’s team of Registered Nutritionists and Dietitians have analyzed 24,000 recipes this year, focusing on reducing levels of fat, saturated fat, and salt using the traffic light labeling criteria. The analysis shows that almost 88% of Compass recipes are low or medium in fat, over 93% are low or medium in salt, and 94% are low or medium in sugar. Additionally, there has been a 4% increase in vegetable portions procurement compared to the previous year.
Compass has set ambitious targets for the future, aiming to have less than 10% of its dishes high in saturated fat and less than 5% high in salt by 2030. The company is also focused on increasing positive nutrients, incorporating behavioral science, and educating customers, clients, and employees on healthy eating practices. Compass is on track to reduce sugar ahead of government targets, demonstrating its commitment to promoting overall health and wellbeing.
One sector that has seen significant success is Compass’ Business and Industry sector, which has achieved great results across its top selling meals. Rather than reducing portion sizes, the company has reformulated options to include beans and pulses, resulting in larger meals that are healthier. This initiative has led to reductions in calories, fat, saturated fat, and increased fiber content, showcasing the positive impact of menu reformulation on health outcomes.
Compass’ Nourished Life website has also played a key role in supporting health and wellbeing initiatives, offering webinars, pop-up events, and workshops on nutritional themes. The company’s Head of Nutrition, Nicky Martin, emphasizes the importance of providing access to healthy and nutritious meals, especially given Compass’ position as the UK’s largest food and services provider.
Overall, Compass Group UK & Ireland’s progress in improving the nutritional quality of its recipes and promoting healthier eating habits is commendable. By focusing on menu reformulation, education, and innovation, the company is paving the way for a healthier future for its customers, clients, and employees.
