Nourishing Our Communities: Ample’s Commitment to Healthier Food Procurement

At Ample, we believe that what we eat defines our collective future. Recent data highlights a stark reality: obesity is one of the most pressing public health challenges in the UK. With two-thirds of English adults and over a third of 10 to 11-year-olds classified as overweight or obese , the strain on our communities and the NHS—costing approximately £6 billion annually for medical treatments—is undeniable.  

Ample is stepping up to join the "whole-system approach" to health. By aligning our procurement and catering strategies with proven national successes, we are committed to making the healthy choice the easy choice for those we serve.  

UK Healthier Food Procurement Roadmap

Our Roadmap to Better Health

Ample is implementing a multi-faceted strategy to overhaul our food environments, drawing on the expertise and results seen in leading public health initiatives across the country:  

1. Setting the Standard with GBSF

We are adopting the Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering Services (GBSF) as our core benchmark. This ensures our food is produced to high sustainability and nutritional standards, specifically focusing on:  

• Nutritional Density: Mandatory elements that ensure a reduction in products high in salt, saturated fat, and sugar.  

• Promoting Freshness: Actively encouraging the consumption of fruit, vegetables, fibre, and oily fish.  

• Smart Pricing: Ensuring that portions of fruit are always priced lower than hot or cold desserts.  

  
  

2. Benchmarking Against Proven Success

While every organisation is different, we are benchmarking our catering goals against the successful outcomes achieved by leading local authority models. We aim to replicate the high standards seen in regional programs that have successfully transformed food quality:  

• Sugar Reduction: We are exploring recipe reformulations similar to programs that have reduced "free sugars" in puddings by an average of 66 percent.  

• Fresh Choices: We are aligning our standards with best-in-class contracts that routinely offer fresh salad options and fruit-based snacks.  

• Menu Auditing: Following the lead of successful school programs, we seek to have our menus validated against high-level nutritional standards to ensure measurable health benefits.  

  
  

Guided by Science: The Eatwell GuideAll our catering decisions and nutritional advice will be centred around the Eatwell Guide. This tool helps our customers understand the balance of food groups required for a healthy, sustainable diet.  

We are committed to helping our customers follow these national recommendations:

• 5-a-Day: Eating at least five portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day.  

• Better Carbs: Basing meals on starchy carbohydrates—choosing wholegrain or higher-fibre versions with less added salt or sugar.  

• Lean Proteins: Including more beans and pulses, and two portions of sustainably sourced fish per week.  

• Hydration: Aiming for six to eight glasses of fluid a day, prioritising water and sugar-free drinks.  

  
  

Leading by Example

Ample is proud to stand with the public sector in taking action to combat obesity. By embedding these standards into our tendering and contract processes, we ensure that health is a primary driver in our operations.  

As noted by public health leaders, healthy catering is not just about the food—it's about "leading by example". Ample is dedicated to creating a healthier, more sustainable food future for everyone.