Food manufacturers in the UK are increasingly winning foodservice contracts with schools and other institutions based on their environmental credentials, says GlobalData.

The contract sector of the foodservice sector is worth £4bn, according to industry body the Federation of Wholesale Distributors (FWD) and suppliers are increasingly becoming aware that they need to meet requirements linked to sustainability and the environment to win contracts.

Andy Coyne, food correspondent at GlobalData, said: “The FWD talks about the increasing opportunity for foodservice businesses to become more sustainable, reduce the environmental impact of the supply chain and take responsibility for the ‘green issues’ that matter most to customers.

“This ‘green contract’ requirement is now being understood by suppliers. Just this week the entrepreneurs who bought UK foods manufacturer Pasta King – which provides ‘grab and go’ meals for the primary and secondary education sector – said the company not only satisfies government standards on salt, saturated fat and vegetable content but meets customers’ sustainability concerns in non-food areas through the introduction of a new 100% plastic-free, fully compostable pot, for example.”

He then stated: “Additionally, its manufacturing kitchens operate under a zero-to-landfill policy with all of the electricity coming from sustainable sources.

“As environmental concerns move front and central, it is reasonable to suggest suppliers that don’t meet such requirements could miss out on lucrative public sector contracts.”