All businesses like to win awards; it is welcome recognition for achievement, or acknowledgement that a business has attained a certain standard.  Excel is no different and we are delighted with some of the prestigious awards we have won in the past.

However, we have recently become very involved with an award that we know we will never win.  We though it might be useful to explain why we have devoted so much time to the healthyliving award administered by NHS Health Scotland, even though we don’t qualify for their award because vending businesses are not currently eligible for the programme.

healthyliving award

The healthyliving award works with food service outlets across Scotland to promote healthy eating, providing caterers with recognition for good practice.  In short, it rewards caterers, from across the length and breadth of Scotland, for making it easier to eat healthily when eating out. The award forms an integral part of the Scottish Government’s catering strategy and is part of a national drive to reduce health inequalities.

What’s in it for Excel?

Whilst vending alone is not covered under the award scheme, many caterers who use vending as part of an overall catering solution do qualify for the award.  Many of these caterers use Excel for their vending supplies.  Therefore, it is important that we can advise these businesses about the healthy eating options that are available in the vending machines, and which ones meet the criteria set by the healthyliving award.

By working closely with NHS Health Scotland we can properly advise catering operators who are seeking the healthyliving award.

However, the benefits to Excel don’t stop there; we are able to pass the information gained through working closely with the heathyliving award programme to our other clients.  More and more private companies and vending machine site owners are moving towards healthier choices in their vending machines, our knowledge helps them make informed choices that benefit their consumers.

Moreover, we also work with food manufacturers to make them aware of the criteria set by the healthliving awards programme. These manufacturers know and respect the commitment of NHS Scotland to bring genuine healthier choices to consumers. They are happy to use the criteria as a standard that they must achieved in order that their products are deemed to be ‘healthier choices’.

So, we are happy to invest time working closely with the healthyliving award programme, whilst we don’t directly benefit, nor do we qualify for an award, we are committed to helping our clients deliver healthier choices.  If we can achieve this and perhaps influence manufacturers to provide greater choices along the way, we will be happy with the return on our investment.

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