As a global foodservice company, we recognise that we have an enormous impact on what our 20 million daily consumers choose to eat and drink. Our contribution to their diet and nutrition is one of our most significant impacts and we are proud of the role we play in promoting health and nutrition. In fact, in many of the markets in which we operate, the meal we provide may be the only nutritional meal eaten by our consumers that day.
We are working closely with our clients (and through them with our consumers) as well as our suppliers, governments and regulators across the globe to respond to public health issues such as those associated with diet and obesity. Our consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the nutritional content of their food choices and during 2008 we have continued to roll-out our healthy eating framework called ‘Balanced Choices’ to enhance nutritional labelling across our food product range, providing customers with the information that they need to make informed choices. More than 750 units (2007: 600 units) in the UK and over 1,750 units (2007: nearly 1,500 units) in the US are now qualified to operate ‘Balanced Choices’.
In 2008, our UK Education business organised several ‘Meet the Grower’ days for over 350 primary school children in Lewisham, London. This interactive event introduced the children to the importance of fresh, healthy food including the chance for school children to meet some of our potato and lettuce growers and plant their own fresh produce to take back to their schools. Similar sessions are already planned with other schools and if successful, could be rolled out on a nationwide basis.
