ARAMARK, the award-winning managed food service company, has a reputation for delivering delicious, nutritious foodservice for its clients; but, as part of its corporate responsibility programme, it’s demonstrating an ongoing commitment to its customers’ wellbeing too. Employees at CSL, an Executive Agency of Defra, were invited to take part in the ‘FLORA Healthy Heart Day’ last week, organised by ARAMARK in a health awareness collaboration with the Flora brand team at Unilever Foodsolutions.
CSL employees were offered workplace lifestyle consultations with a team of specialist nurses, who gave advice and information to help them make diet and lifestyle improvements. During the 15-minute session, employees had their cholesterol, body mass index and blood pressure measured, as well as being asked about their food consumption patterns, their general activity levels and other health indicators such as alcohol intake and smoking.
The health checks support CSL’s Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative (PSFPI) strategy. One of PSFPI’s objectives is to promote health and nutrition for example by increasing the consumption of healthy and nutritious food.
The nursing team was oversubscribed for the 70 appointments, so ARAMARK had to run a ballot for the 15-minute slots. CSL staff were grateful for the opportunity to learn more about their health.
Philip Ibbotson, Facilities Management Contracts Manager at CSL comments, “These health consultations show our employees in practical, sustainable ways that we care about their health and wellbeing. This in turn helps them take responsibility for their lifestyle, which includes, and can affect, their performance at work. Additionally, by offering these checks, we are practically demonstrating our commitment to the Defra’s PSFPI strategy”
‘We get a lot of buy-in from these consultations and try to keep the advice realistic and achievable,’ says Clare Logan, Brand Manager for Flora, Unilever Foodsolutions. ‘If someone is generally healthy the nurses just offer tips and tweaks on diet and exercise. If their cholesterol or any other score is too high they give them a letter for their GP indicating their results to ensure continuity of care.’
Stuart Wood, ARAMARK’s Catering Manager at CSL, concludes: ‘These consultations show our customers that ARAMARK is committed to supporting their health and wellbeing. We were delighted to join forces with the Flora brand team at Unilever Foodsolutions to run this important event.’
