Bartlett Mitchell achieves ‘two star champion' Sustainable Restaurant Association status

Bartlett Mitchell has achieved ‘two star champion' status with the Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA).

Last year it was announced that Bartlett Mitchell and the Lindley Group were the first foodservice operators to sign up to the organisation's new model rating system designed specifically for contract caterers.

The scale of Lindley's operation means that it is still going through the process, while Bartlett Mitchell has become the first foodservice business to complete the accreditation.

The company performed very well across the SRA's three sustainability pillars of sourcing, society and the environment, achieving a score of 69%: just one percentage point away from the SRA's top status of three star champion.

Sally Grimes, quality standards mentor for Bartlett Mitchell, commented: "We're so happy to have scored this highly for our first ever assessment. We do a lot of work in the background on sustainability and it's really good to know that we are on the right track.

"The great thing about an assessment like this is that it ticks off what you are already doing well but also helps you identify the areas that that need more work.

Some of our new targets include investigating high welfare animal produce, further reducing the amount of air-freighted produce used, setting formal water saving targets and team training on water use reduction, and formalising arrangements regarding regular support for national charities."

Bartlett Mitchell demonstrated particularly good social responsibility, and picked up a perfect score was awarded for ‘treating people fairly' in the society pillar. The company was commended for the approach it takes towards its staff, as well as the way in which it communicates its sustainable ethos and transparent pricing to its customers.

Bite Catering was named the first member of the SRA from the foodservice sector in 2011.