POSTED: Monday December 7th 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

London 2012 to showcase the best of British food in 2012

Wide choice of food and drink available at Games time

   

 

-14 million meals   to be served across 40 different locations

 

-London 2012 to   set new standards in sustainable sourcing of food

 

 

 

The London Organising Committee of   the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) today outlined its vision for food   at the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in 2012 - the largest peace-time   catering operation in the world. London 2012’s vision outlined within   the document is to provide a wide choice  of food and drink for all customers   at Games time, and to ensure that the best of British food is on offer

 

 

 

Over 14 million meals will be   served during the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, across 40 locations.    LOCOG is responsible for feeding the 15,000 athletes across the Olympic Games   and Paralympic Games.  It is estimated that to do this will require in excess   of:

 

-            25,000 loaves of bread

 

-            232 tonnes of potatoes

 

-            82 tonnes of seafood

 

-            31 tonnes of poultry items

 

-            100 tonnes of meat

 

-            75,000 litres of milk

 

-            19 tonnes of eggs

 

-            21 tonnes of cheese

 

-            330 tonnes of fruit and vegetables

 

 

 

London 2012 CEO Paul Deighton   outlined the importance of the document, “Catering for the Olympic   Games and Paralympic Games is a monumental task. We want athletes and   spectators to have the widest choices of food available and we want that   food, wherever possible, to be British.”

 

 

 

In 2010, LOCOG will also launch a   Food Charter, a campaign to encourage organisations throughout the events,   catering and hospitality sectors to commit to supporting and implementing   local, seasonal, healthier and sustainable standards across the industry.

 

 

 

In line with London 2012’s   sustainability commitments, the London 2012 Food Vision sets out benchmark   and aspirational standards in how it sources food.  The benchmark standards   will be the most challenging ever set by a summer Games.  LOCOG has set Red   Tractor standard as the benchmark standard across meat, fruit, vegetables,   salads, cereals and dairy.  All dairy products, beef, lamb and poultry must   be British.  In addition, bananas, tea, coffee and sugar will be Fairtrade or   ethically sourced and traditional British cheese   such as cheddar must be British.  Eggs must be British Lion mark free range   and RSPCA Freedom Food Certified chicken will be available.  All chocolate   sold will be Fairtrade or ethically sourced.  All fish will be sustainable,   including the complete exclusion of species and stocks identified by the   Marine Conservation Society (MCS) as ‘fish to avoid’ and all   wild-caught fish meeting the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries. 

 

 

 

The London 2012 Food Vision has   been developed in consultation with the London 2012 Food Advisory Group,   which includes representatives from DEFRA, Food Standards Agency, the   National Farmers Union and Sustain: The Alliance for Better Food and   Farming. 

 

 

 

The publication of this document   coincides with the beginning of a major procurement push for LOCOG in the   catering sector to supply food, staff and catering outlets.  Opportunities   exist for suppliers of all sizes and from all locations – contracts   will be advertised via CompeteFor, the London 2012 business portal.  Any   companies interested should register their details – see www.london2012.com/business for   more details.  As part of discussions with potential catering suppliers,   LOCOG will ask the industry to look at ways the aspirational standards can be   adopted in a commercially viable way.

 

 

 

Catering staff will also be given   extra training to ensure a uniform standard of customer care, as well as food   safety and hygiene at all Games venues.  London 2012 aims to particularly   focus on the London Host Boroughs to support the staffing of food outlets at   Games-time.  The chosen caterers will join London 2012 commercial partners   Coca-Cola, McDonald’s and Cadbury which will also be supplying food and   drink and will provide the only branded products on sale.  Current   projections are that McDonald’s catering at the Olympic Park will   amount to about 20% of the total food provision available to the public.  All   soft drinks and mineral water will be provided by Coca-Cola who are committed   to providing wide variety of drinks including still, sparkling, low and no   sugar, 100% juice, water, sports and energy drinks. 

 

 

 

In addition LOCOG has confirmed   that free drinking water will be made available at all Games venues.

 

 

 

The full document is available to   download from the London 2012 website.  The London 2012 Sustainable Sourcing   code has also been updated and is available to download. 

 

 

 

London 2012 CEO   Paul Deighton added “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.”

 

 

 

Olympic gold   medalist and London 2012 Sustainability Ambassador James Cracknell commented,   “As well as the millions of ticket holders and spectators, the   Organising Committee is also responsible for feeding more than 15,000   athletes across both the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.  When   you’re an athlete at a Games, you want to know that the right food is   available at the right time – it’s a vital part of your   preparation.  The approach being taken for the food provision at London 2012   is the same for both athletes and spectators – responsibly sourced and   ensuring a wide choice.”

 

 

 

Peter Kendall,   President of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) commented,   “London 2012 is often described as ‘the largest peace-time   catering operation in the world’ and I’m very pleased that LOCOG   recognises the important role that UK farmers will play in providing 14   million high quality meals during this time.
 
  Committing to procure UK Red Tractor assured food wherever seasonally   possible delivers on LOCOG’s promise to provide fresh, quality food for   all at the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012.  Never before has such a   large scale catering contract had such sustainable procurement standards and   I hope that this can act as a blueprint for minimum catering standards in the   future.”

 

 

 

David   Clarke, chief executive of Assured Food Standards,   which runs the Red Tractor scheme, commented “We are delighted that   LOCOG are committed to sourcing Red Tractor certified food that represents   high standards of food safety, animal welfare and environmental protection.   This initiative provides a great opportunity to communicate an extremely   positive message that the food provided to everyone involved in the 2012   Olympic Games and Paralympic Games will be fully traceable and has been   produced to strict standards from farm to pack.”

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

– Ends   –

 

 

 

 
 

For further information please   contact the London 2012 Press Office on +44 (0)203 2012 100 or visit the   website at www.london2012.com. Find out the latest from London 2012 HQ on our blog http://blog.london2012.com  

 

 

 

Notes to editors

 

 

 

Download   an image of James Cracknell at Upper   Hockenden Farm, Swanley in Kent

 

 

 

Download   the London 2012 Food vision (PDF, 4.2MB)

 

 

 

The Food Advisory Group is made up   of representatives from:

 

 

 

British Hospitality Association

 

Cadbury

 

Chartered Institutive of   Environmental Health

 

Coca-Cola

 

DEFRA

 

Food and Drink Federation

 

Food Standards Agency

 

Foodservice Consultants Society   International

 

London Food Board

 

McDonald’s

 

National Farmers Union

 

Professional Association for   Catering Education

 

Russell Partnership

 

Sustain: The Alliance for Better Food and Farming

 

 

 

As it heads towards its £2bn   budget for staging the Olympic and Paralympic Games, LOCOG has seven domestic   Tier One Partners - adidas, BMW, BP, British Airways, BT, EDF and Lloyds TSB.   There are six domestic Tier Two Supporters – Adecco, Cadbury, Cisco,   Deloitte, Thomas Cook and UPS. There are eleven domestic Tier Three Suppliers   and Providers – Airwave, Atkins, Boston Consulting Group, Crystal CG,   Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, Holiday Inn, McCann Worldgroup, The   Nielsen Company, Populous, Ticketmaster and Trident.

 

 

 

The Worldwide Olympic Partners   signed up for London 2012 are Coca-Cola, Acer, Atos Origin, GE,   McDonald’s, Omega, Panasonic, Samsung and Visa.

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Keywords · London 2012 · Olympic Games

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Name: London 2012 Press Office
Organization: London 2012
Email:
Phone: +44 (0)203 2012 100
URL: http://www.london2012.com/index.php

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