SEC introduces new food strategy, with sustainability at its heart

Date: 19/07/2021

Category:

  • New food strategy unveiled ahead of SEC hosting global climate change conference COP26
  • Food strategy includes the venue’s commitment to using 80% Scottish-sourced produce

The host of COP26 the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) in Glasgow has announced its new food strategy which will ensure that sustainable, responsible, and healthier choices sit at the heart of the venue’s events, further underlining The SEC’s reputation as a world class venue.

The renewed approach has been developed over the past two years with its official catering and hospitality partner Levy UK + I (the sports, and hospitality division of Compass Group UK and Ireland). It includes a pledge to source at least 80% of its food from Scotland, with all produce sourced from high-welfare producers with sustainable agriculture processes.

As part of the best-in-class food strategy, SEC will champion high quality, environmentally friendly local suppliers in areas such as fruit and vegetables, meat and bread. The food and drink offering at the landmark Glasgow venue will offer a broader range of plant-based options alongside premium and low-impact, local animal protein sources.

SEC’s new food strategy includes a plan for packaging, with a commitment that all packaging used will be reusable or recyclable by 2023. The venue is also making strides in the fight against food waste and aims to have reduced kitchen wastage to under 1% of food purchases by 2025 or sooner[1]. Food waste will continue to be diverted from landfill to anaerobic digestion processing.

A leader in driving progressive change in the events catering market, SEC was the first accredited ‘Healthy Venue’ in the world by the World Obesity Federation. Its commitment to sustainable food and drink offerings will be an integral part of the venue’s continuing focus on health as a core value.

The new food strategy has been implemented ahead of SEC hosting the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), taking place 1st – 12th November 2021.

Kathleen Warden, Director of Conference Sales at SEC said: “Our new food strategy is an integral part of our commitment to reducing the environmental impact of events that take place on our Campus. As our industry gears up to restart, there is no better time to drive forward positive change.

“We are honoured to be hosting COP26 later this year and we’re fortunate to have a food and drink partner in Levy UK+I that shares our commitment to minimising the climate impacts of our offering.

“While we recognise that we can continue to do more to improve the environment we all share, we are proud to have a strong and ambitious strategy in place to help us champion the very best of sustainably sourced Scottish produce on the international stage.”

Kevin Watson, Business Director at Levy UK + I, said: “The amazing new food strategy that we have created with SEC is a world class example as to how the conference and events industry can achieve greater sustainability and reduce food waste in catering and hospitality. It fully complements our Levy Cares commitments which sit at the very heart of the sustainable and ethical approach we adopt in all our work – from the food we serve, the teams we work with and the communities we support. We are delighted that SEC is hosting COP26 later this year and feel it is the perfect event to showcase how food strategies like ours can play an instrumental role in combatting climate change.”

[1] SEC donates surplus non-perishable food to local charity Launch Foods. In 2020, SEC donated around 10,000 food items to the charity who distribute it through local community organisations and schools.


Image shows L-R: Kathleen Warden, Director of Conference Sales at SEC, Wallace Hendrie, Hendrie Brothers farmers (one of the SEC suppliers) and Kevin Watson, Business Director at Levy UK + I.

 

Issued on behalf of SEC by Frame PR. 

For more information, interviews or images contact:
Rory Weller, rory.weller@framecreates.co.uk / 07841 720 006

Notes to Editors:

About SEC

Based by the river Clyde in Glasgow, the SEC is a world-leading conferencing, exhibitions and live entertainment events campus. It includes the 14,000 capacity SSE Hydro – one of the busiest music arenas in the world – and the SEC Armadillo, both designed by world-renowned architects Foster + Partners. The Armadillo is a Glasgow landmark with a unique style and purpose-built conference and entertainment facilities for up to 3,000. The third and largest of the venues on campus, SEC Centre offers five interconnected exhibition and event halls, and additional conferencing suites, with a combined area of over 22,000sqm.

SEC is a net contributor to the broader Glasgow, Scottish, and UK economies. In a 2019 economic impact study conducted by EKOS, SEC’s activities contributed a net additional expenditure of: 

  • £431m to Glasgow 
  • £311m to Scotland
  • £243m to the UK

This economic benefit can support 5,694 full-time equivalent jobs in Glasgow. 

Previously known as the Scottish Exhibition + Conference Centre (SECC), the campus is operated by Scottish Event Campus Limited, which includes The SSE Hydro, SEC Armadillo, SEC Centre, car parks and surrounding land.

About Levy UK + Ireland

Levy UK + Ireland is the sports and hospitality sector of Compass Group UK and Ireland. It is the market leader in the provision of legendary food and drink experiences at some of the UK’s most significant sporting, arena, and leisure venues.

Through strong client partnerships, Levy UK + Ireland creates bespoke food concepts, service standards and pioneering design, implementing a guest-first approach and ongoing innovation at each venue. With a company-wide passion for food, Levy UK + Ireland creates menus and food experiences that feature fantastic seasonal dishes, with a strong focus on British ingredients.

As well as providing tailor-made concepts for its clients, Levy UK + Ireland also delivers corporate hospitality, event catering, venue sourcing and support services, through its portfolio of businesses. These include Keith Prowse, Payne and Gunter, Lime Venue Portfolio and LSS. 

 

Scroll to Top