How to top the ProVeg ranking

We recently shared our first-ever Contract Caterer Ranking, scoring the top 25 school caterers in England on how sustainable and plant-forward their menus are. After months of data collection and analysis, we finally launched!?

But what is it, and how do caterers score highly in our ranking??

Our Contract Caterer Ranking analyses the biggest school contract caterers in England in relation to a set criteria. It exists to help schools choose a provider that aligns with their sustainability goals, championing plant-powered menus and celebrating plant-based dishes. Here’s a breakdown of our assessment criteria, coordinated by a data analyst.??

Our scoring system has three facets: promotion of plant-based foods, quantity of plant-based dishes available, and communication around sustainability and plant-based foods.?

We first considered if and how the caterer is promoting plant-based foods. Many of these evidence-based recommendations are from the World Resources Institute’s guidance on improving the uptake of vegetarian and plant-based foods, such as clear labelling, and positioning the planet-friendly option as the first option on the menu, rather than the second. Here are the questions we asked when looking for a top-scoring, planet-friendly menu:

• Are their vegetarian and plant-based dishes described with positive language accentuating their flavour, texture, or provenance, and/or in child-friendly terms?
• Do all vegetarian and plant-based dishes avoid the use of the words ‘meat-free’, ‘meatless’, ‘fish-free’, ‘fishless’, ‘dairy-free’, vegetarian and vegan?

• Do the vegetarian and plant-based dishes (including sides & desserts) use (v) and (ve) - or other symbols - as identifiers after the name?

• Are all vegetarian days described without using the words ‘meat-free’ or ‘meatless’?

• Does the menu avoid using the words ‘main’ & ‘vegetarian’, or similar, to describe main meal options? Instead, does it use either option 1 and option 2 (or similar), or completely remove category names? Does it also avoid the use of colours with dishes that reinforce the type of dish (for example, red for meat-based dishes and green for veggie dishes)?

• Do plant-based/vegetarian days/dishes have identifiers (symbols or descriptors) of being planet or climate-friendly, or similar?

• Are vegetarian/plant-based options positioned at the top of the menu every day?

Next, we looked at the quantity of plant-based food and scored accordingly. How many options are available on the menu…

• Is there a plant-based option for all main meals??
• Is there a weekly meat-free (and fish-free) day or days?
• Are plant-based options available daily in all meal categories, including mains, grab & go, jacket potatoes, sides, and desserts).?

Finally, we evaluated the transparency and communication of plant-based food benefits. Are caterers openly talking about the benefits of plant-powered school meals and more veg on school plates??

Here’s what we are looking for from our top caterers:?

• On their website, does the caterer claim to deliver sustainability??
• Are their sustainability claims linked to plant-based foods??
• Is there further information regarding the health and sustainability of the menu available to the public on the website??
• Is the caterer transparent, communicative, and cooperative with the ranking?

Once we’d worked our way through all of the criteria and scored each caterer’s menu, we were able to assign them a position in the ranking. Now, schools are able to view a profile for each caterer based on their sustainable offerings, making the process easier for selecting a caterer that prioritises both healthy, and sustainable menus.?

The ranking also gives you an insight into our ProVeg UK School Plates programme. Much of our work, alongside recipe creation and menu consultation, is focused on how we talk about plant-based foods. Are we making the plant-powered options sound as delicious as they are - or has it just been titled ‘vegetable curry’? With gentle nudges, we can shift behaviours towards the healthiest and most sustainable food option. School environments play a vital role in promoting sustainable food, and ensuring a healthier future for children and the planet.?

To chat more about our School Plates support, or to talk about the rankings, please get in touch with us at [email protected].

??Contract Caterer Ranking - the caterer profiles: https://proveg.org/uk/news/proveg-uk-launches-contract-caterer-ranking/

???Our press release: https://proveg.org/uk/news/catering-giant-tops-new-ranking-with-planet-friendly-menu/

?? More on our School Plates Programme: https://proveg.org/uk/school-plates/