Lime Venue Portfolio to Change Industry Thinking on Food

Lime Venue Portfolio, alongside its catering partners Levy UK, have outlined a new proposition for food within the meetings and events industry. The announcement follows the arrival of Jon Davies as Managing Director to the business, and is focused on changing the way the industry thinks about food and the impacts it has on the planet.

The new proposition follows extensive consumer research and focuses mainly on sustainable and ethical thinking. The approach acknowledges the impact that meeting and event food has on the planet, and looks to challenge the industry to make changes that will reduce waste, support global sustainability, and promote healthy eating.

“Our approach has three main strands to it,” comments Jon Davies, Managing Director across the two businesses. “The first is what we call the Michael Pollan approach; ‘eat food, not too much, mostly plants.’ It’s a holistic way of encompassing how we want to put our menu’s together. As part of this we’re coming up with new ways of rebalancing the mix between meat and veg on the plate, challenging the industry’s fear of running out - or #FORO as we’re calling it - and looking at new formats of delivery to the table that mean we can better manage portion size and wastage.

“The second strand is education, and we’re announcing a number of ambitious plans to really engage the industry in a discussion about food. We need to have open and challenging conversations across venues, with chefs, event organisers and delegates, allowing us to take on these big issues collaboratively. This includes understanding what a ‘new’ delegate is looking for from a food experience at an event.

“Finally, we’re looking to break up conventional layouts at events where food plays a major role. I’m personally really keen to bring chefs out into the event, encourage more sharing plates at tables, and more theatre in the delivery.It’s more modern, more interesting and more fun, and it supports our ambitions to manage waste and promote new and interesting menu’s.”

Both Lime Venue Portfolio and Levy UK are looking to roll out the new approach strategy across its 80+ strong portfolio, initially starting within its ‘confex’ and stadia venues. Lime Venue Portfolio will be announcing a series of initiatives and educational forums to continue the conversations around food, and how the industry can continue to become more sustainable and responsible.