March 2008

Sporting venues score an own goal with vegetarians

Some of the UK’s top sporting venues are unable to guarantee that their catering is suitable for vegetarians, The Vegetarian Society has found.

Five out of six venues shortlisted for The Vegetarian Society’s sports catering award, across premiership football, motor racing and cricket, couldn’t comply with the Society’s criteria for approval, which states that vegetarian food should be free of animal by-products and use only free range eggs. Only one company, Wilf’s, which specialises in catering for outdoor events such as orienteering, mountain biking and adventure racing, was able to prove its catering was totally veggie-friendly.

Annette Pinner, Chief Executive of the Vegetarian Society, said: “I think it’s very disappointing that of all the large venues we shortlisted, not one could reassure us that it was completely safe for vegetarians to enjoy their meals. Wilf’s has succeeded in producing top quality food that meets with all The Vegetarian Society’s criteria, an achievement which currently eludes their bigger competitors.”

The company specialises in good, wholesome home-cooked food and is based near Kendal in the Lake District, where it also runs a popular café.

Iain Williamson of Wilf’s said: “We are delighted to have ‘beaten the big guys’ to win this award. We’ve stuck to our guns in the belief that offering a predominantly vegetarian menu at our outside events provides excellent energy giving properties. Our veggie chilli is our biggest seller, and all our food is made using veggie-friendly ingredients such as free range eggs and vegetarian cheese.”

The Vegetarian Society’s Awards promote best practice among caterers, manufacturers and retailers, and highlight the importance of integrity in the vegetarian market place. New categories for 2008 include: Best independent pub or restaurant for vegetarian food; Best vegetarian ready-made dessert; Best vegetarian beauty product and Best veggie-friendly TV chef. You can register your vote for this year’s awards at www.vegsoc.org/awards

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For more information contact Su Taylor at the Vegetarian Society on 0161 925 2012 or 07973 108 165/7 or email su@vegsoc.org