2012 Olympic Food Vision a golden opportunity for local business

During the course of the 2012 London Olympics and Paralympic Games it is estimated that 14 million meals will be served across 40 different locations. The vision aims to set out how these meals will be provided, and demonstrate high standards in using local, Fairtrade, and sustainably sourced products.

The vision includes a commitment to ensuring all dairy products, beef, lamb and poultry are British, while bananas, tea, coffee and sugar must be Fairtrade. The report also states that traditional British cheeses, such as Cheddar, must be sourced from Britain.

The London 2012 Organising Committee will now start the process of finding catering suppliers, and is listing opportunities through the London 2012 Business Network (linked below). The chosen caterers will join corporate sponsors Coca-Cola, McDonald's and Cadbury; the only suppliers of branded products at the events.

London 2012 Chief Executive, Paul Deighton, said: "We want to ensure everyone at the Games has a fantastic experience and key to that is the food and drink that's available - we want it to be affordable, sustainable and celebrating the fantastic diversity and quality of what Britain has to offer.

"We also want to ensure that there is a great legacy for the catering industry in this country, ensuring it is even better equipped to provide quality, sustainable food and drink for events both large and small.

"Over the next year we will work with our partners and the catering industry to deliver a solution that works in 2012 itself and for years to come."

MORE WORK TO DO
Rosie Boycott, the Chair of the London Food Board, was pleased by much of the content of the report, but believed there was still more to do: "I am pleased to see a range of solid commitments by LOCOG and the Olympic sponsors in this final report to achieving high standards of healthy, ethical and sustainable food. As a Fairtrade city, it is fitting that the London Games is committing to a wide selection of these products being available. I am also pleased that only fish from sustainable sources will be allowed and that caterers will be encouraged to use local and seasonal food.

"I am keen that there is now more work undertaken to ensure that higher standards, particularly in relation to animal welfare and environmental standards for farming, are mandatory rather than aspirational as currently stated in the report. For example, there is currently no specified target for the proportion of high welfare Freedom Food accredited meat to be served, or for organic products. It is also vital that small and medium businesses local to London are given a fair opportunity to take a share of the contracts coming from this prestigious event. This will help to reduce the food miles associated with the Games as well as help to stimulate job creation in the capital."

Edited by Jennifer Denby

Sources: Food Vision for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games

London 2012 Business Network site

The London Food Board