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Elior brings organic to the table

“What we call ‘organic’ is a type of agricultural production that respects the environment and doesn't use chemical products like pesticides or chemical fertilizers,” explains Philippe Baguet, Elior's Director of Food Quality and Safety. 
More than just a trend, ‘organic’ is becoming the natural preference for more and more consumers.
In Concession Catering, the trend is increasing in scale, especially at Elior. The Group is the largest buyer of organic products in France, currently making 60% of all purchases in the contract catering sector.

Elior gradually introduces organic food onto guests’ dinner tables. Simple products like bread rolls, fruit, rice or yoghurts whet organic consumers’ appetites. Then, more complete dishes are added to the menu.

Who gets organic?
Children are the major recipients of these products. “We serve 90% of our organic products in school canteens,” says Philippe Baguet, "mainly in primary schools.” In staff canteens, Elior regularly organises special events like “organic corners” to spread awareness.
Government department canteens and French university canteens (CROUS) will be at least 20% organic by 2012. This is one of the measures adopted under the ‘Grenelle Environment Conference’ (2007).

In other countries, too, guests at Elior restaurants are going organic. Italy, one of the largest European producers of organic vegetables, is a leader in organic food for school canteens. In Great Britain and the Netherlands, there is growing demand for organic in contract catering for adults.

Organic at Elior means…
- 1% of all products served in the Group’s restaurants
- the equivalent of 600,000 complete meals
- organic products in more than 2 million meals
(Figures from 2007)

Significant dates
- 2000: Elior introduces a range of organic products and makes them available to its restaurants.
- 2004: the Group begins a partnership with SYNABIO, the French Association of Organic Producers and Distributors.
- 2007: the first conference on organic food in contract catering is organised by SYNABIO, HEC (School of Management) and Elior.

 Few links

- See all the Elior Group’s Commitments Elior.Our Commitments
- Find more information about “Production and Consumption” on the official website of the Grenelle Environment Conference