Prestigious award for Norse schools catering
December 2010

Schoolchildren across Norfolk are benefiting from freshly prepared, locally produced, seasonal and organic food - and that's official.
 
The Soil Association has awarded its prestigious Food for Life Catering Mark to Norse Commercial Services, which provides school meals to 340 of the county's primary schools.
 
There was further good news with 28 schools being awarded a Bronze Award under the Food for Life scheme. This award is for schools that have done that bit extra such as ensuring all meat meets UK welfare standards and eggs are from cage free hens.
 
The achievements were marked at an awards ceremony at Central Hall, Westminster where TV presenter Fern Britton presented the Food For Life Catering Mark awards to caterers from the East of England, London and the South East.
 
Chris Cope, Operations and Purchasing Manager (Primary Schools), said: “School food provision should be an integral part of education, there is nothing to hide in the food produced in our kitchens or where it comes from.
 
"Pupils learn about local, seasonal food, they can see it growing in their vegetable gardens and eat it as part of their lunch so they leave school with a desire to continue to make healthy choices.”
 
Tony Williams, Norse Board Member, said: "I congratulate everyone concerned at both Norse Commercial Services and those schools who have won Bronze Awards. We have made great strides in the provision of healthy school meals over recent years and these awards are richly deserved."
 
Jeanette Orrey, school meals policy advisor to the Soil Association, said: "I'm thrilled about the excellent work done by Norse Commercial Services - it's great to know that children are eating freshly prepared, locally sourced and seasonal food every day.
 
"We've come a long way but there is still more to do - and the Catering Mark is a real asset to caterers who can show their customers that they are playing a key role in transforming our food culture."