Sodexo Canada will convert 20% of its current ingredients purchasing to plant-based to improve animal welfare, sustainability, and human health, in the next few years.

MONTREAL (June 23, 2021) — Sodexo Canada and Humane Society International/Canada are excited to announce a new development in their national partnership: Sodexo Canada has signed onto the Forward Food Pledge, committing to transition 20% of its protein purchases across Canada to plant-based. To achieve this goal, HSI/Canada is supporting Sodexo Canada in providing culinary trainings, recipes, and menu development to Sodexo’s culinary team across Canada.

Health and wellness are at the heart of our diverse food offer and increases awareness to improving animal welfare. Together with Humane Society International/Canada we have refreshed our strategy to bring our teams the tools they need through training and engagement, data analysis and responsible sourcing strategies to achieve our commitment to reducing emissions and providing increased healthy and delicious plant-based menu offerings, says Davide Del Brocco, Sustainability Manager at Sodexo Canada.

Our Love of Food program incorporates the creativity of our chefs and the resources of our Corporate Responsibility team directly into the menu development process. This synergy with HSI/Canada's Forward Food program enables us to achieve our mutual goals of creating menus that speak to the needs of Canadians and drive sustainable business practices, says Kyle Mason, Sodexo Canada's senior manager of culinary development.

Riana Topan, campaign manager for HSI/Canada, says, We are delighted to be partnering with Sodexo to increase their plant-based and plant-forward menu options, which will save an estimated 510,000 animals each year, reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, improve the health of their clients and meet Canadians’ unprecedented demand for delicious, environmentally and animal-friendly food choices. Sodexo is setting a meaningful example for the foodservice industry in Canada by taking the Forward Food Pledge for every one of its accounts that serve food and working to reduce its use of animal proteins by 20% over the next two years.

This transformative target and milestone make the foodservice industry in Canada more compassionate, sustainable, and nutritious.

 

Media contacts

Caroline Desvaux, Head of Communications, Sodexo Canada – tel. 514-476-2158

Riana Topan, Campaign Manager, HSI/Canada – cell: 613-315-0775

 

About HSI/Canada’s Forward Food culinary training program with Sodexo Canada

Sodexo Canada and HSI/Canada began working together in 2018, delivering plant-based culinary training to different Sodexo’s education and health-care operations. In 2020, they launched a national, virtual version of the Forward Food culinary training program that could be delivered during the COVID-19 pandemic, so far engaging over 40 chefs and culinary managers from dozens of Sodexo’s accounts.

The virtual trainings are continuing throughout 2021, helping Sodexo’s culinary professionals across the country to elevate their plant-based menu options. As part of this partnership, HSI/Canada will also work with Sodexo to conduct a greenhouse gas assessment for Sodexo to estimate their reduction in GHG emissions as a result of making plants a bigger focus of their menus. Sodexo has also committed to reduce its carbon emissions globally by 34% by 2025; adding more plant-based options will be a major factor in the company reaching that target. The company serves approximately 250,000 meals daily at their higher education, corporate services and energy and resource accounts in Canada.

 

About Sodexo

Sodexo delivers a wide range of customized solutions, designed to optimize work and living environments. Sodexo has been providing food and facilities management services in Canada for over 40 years, with a focus on enhancing safety, work process and well-being. Sodexo is a market leader in Canada. Sodexo has been recognized as a top employer for the past seven consecutive years. Sodexo is proud to have created the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation, an independent charitable organization that has raised over $3 million to fight hunger and donated more than one million meals to at-risk youth across Canada since 2007.

 

About Humane Society International/Canada

Humane Society International/Canada is a leading force for animal protection, with active programs in companion animals, wildlife and habitat protection, marine mammal preservation, farm animal welfare and animals in research. HSI/Canada is proud to be a part of Humane Society International which, together with its affiliates, constitutes one of the world’s largest animal protection organizations. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty worldwide and on the web.

HSI/Canada’s Forward Food program is partially supported by Friends of HSI, a registered charitable organization working to protect animals through public education and awareness, rescue, sheltering, provision of veterinary services and other direct care programs. HSI/Canada’s Forward Food helps institutions and businesses across Canada increase their offerings of delicious and nutritious plant-based options that are better for the animals, the environment and human health. HSI/Canada’s Forward Food provides culinary trainings, recipes and menu development support, educational sessions and help with marketing and communications – for free!

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