Initial in the UK

We are a part of the Rentokil Initial group. We are a leading provider of expert facilities management, medical and hygiene services to businesses and organisations of all kind, enabling them to focus on what they do best.

News 2010

Initial Catering Services Achieves Red Tractor Status

04/19/2010

Initial Catering Services has secured Red Tractor status reflecting that £1.5 million of meat used within its business each year is sourced from Assured British farms that meet guaranteed standards in terms of animal welfare, environmental protection, safety and hygiene. The accreditation was presented to Initial Catering Services at a plaque ceremony at the House of Lords, organised by Assured Food Standards and hosted by Lord Taylor of Holbeach CBE. The event was attended by employees, customers, suppliers and representatives from the NFU.

Red Tractor Accreditation has been awarded to Initial Catering Services across private and public sector sites operated by its Eden Foodservice and autograph businesses locations, including more than 900 primary and secondary schools and four restaurants for the Department for Children Schools and Famillies. It will ensure that all meat is fully traceable from field to fork and has been produced to Red Tractor standards at every stage of the supply chain.

Speaking at the plaque ceremony, Lord Taylor of Holbech CBE said: “As a farmer and grower myself, I am a great supporter of the Red Tractor scheme, which provides significant value to not only food producers, but also the consumer and the economy as a whole. Initial Catering Services has demonstrated its commitment to maintaining high standards across the Eden Foodservice and autograph businesses by sourcing quality meat from British farms.”

Paul Daly, Managing Director of Initial Catering Services commented: “The Red Tractor accreditation is part of an ongoing strategy to provide value to our customers by guaranteeing our food produce comes from farms and food companies that meet high standards in terms of overall quality, safety, hygiene and responsibility. By operating this sustainable procurement policy, we are supporting the British farming community and ensuring we continue to provide high quality catering solutions.”                                                            

David Clarke, Chief Executive of Assured Food Standards said: “Our primary mission is to represent the hard work and dedication of 75,000 Red Tractor Assured British farmers and encourage the adoption of world class standards of production. However, the Red Tractor scheme can only work if there is demand from businesses such as Initial Catering Services, so we are thrilled by their commitment to sourcing quality farm assured meat.”

Assured Food Standards, the organisation behind the Red Tractor, has a comprehensive range of standards that guarantee farms and food companies meet high standards of food safety and hygiene, animal welfare and environmental protection. Every year around 60,000 inspections take place across every critical stage of food production, processing and packing to ensure that the standards are being met and that all Red Tractor products can be traced back to the farms where they came from.