Shift Toward Vegan Options Assists Major Catering Service in Providing More Nutritious Meals Worldwide
In the ever-evolving world of food, Compass Group, the world's largest catering company, is leading the charge towards a more plant-based future. Based in the UK and Ireland, the company has committed to replacing 40% of its meat dishes with plant-based proteins by 2030.
This commitment is part of Compass Group's broader push to make 40% of its menus plant-based. The move is not only a response to growing consumer demand for sustainable and healthier food options but also a strategic decision aimed at reducing the environmental impact of its operations.
ESS, Compass Group's defence and government services brand, is at the forefront of this transformation. All breakfast smoothies provided by ESS are vegan, and all dessert options are either vegetarian or plant-based.
Chartwells, Compass Group's school catering arm, is also increasing meat-free options with each seasonal menu change. This shift towards plant-based dishes is not limited to Compass Group alone. Sodexo has pledged to make a third of its menu plant-based by this year, and Accor Group aims to turn half its food offerings vegan by 2030.
Compass Group's nutritionists are actively updating recipes to add plant proteins each month. The increased use of vegetables, beans, lentils, and other plant proteins has led to a reduction in fat, salt, and sugar content in Compass Group's dishes. An analysis of over 70,000 products showed that 17% would be classified as a source of or high in plant protein, and 23% the same for animal protein.
The company's healthier range, The Good Stuff, is embedded in over 50% of food concepts in the business and industry sector. Compass Group has also worked to reduce foods high in fat, salt, or sugar, with nearly 88% of the 21,000 analyzed recipes having low or medium levels of fat, rising to 93% for salt and 94% for sugar.
Compass Group is not just focusing on what it serves but also on what it discards. The company is working with FareShare, Olio, and Too Good to Go to redistribute surplus food to communities in need.
In the medical sector, Medirest, Compass Group's medical subsidiary, is reducing red meat dishes and adding vegetables and plant-based proteins at its Wellspring restaurant. The company's wellness team has hosted over 60 pop-up events to highlight the plant-forward philosophy of its Ways to Be Well initiative.
Nicky Martin, director of nutrition at Compass Group UK & Ireland, stated that the company continues to keep levels of fat, sugar, and salt low and focuses on plant-based and plant-forward dishes. Nutritionists at Levy, Compass Group's sports and events hospitality arm, are looking to reduce the amount of ultra-processed foods available.
In the past year, Compass Group increased its vegetable procurement by 8%, leading to 120 million portions of vegetables being served to children. In 2024, Compass Group ordered 29,000 tonnes of beans, legumes, and pulses.
Anay Mridul, a vegan food writer and editor originally from India, reports this transformation from across Asia. The shift towards plant-based dining by Compass Group is a significant step towards a more sustainable and healthier future for the food industry.
