Sowing the seeds

Healthier menu for leading venue

Whether it’s an international congress, a trade exhibition or a corporate dinner dance, there is only one venue in Aberdeen that can host major large scale events.

And now event organisers can be sure of a healthier choice of menu, as the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre has become the first of its kind in Scotland to achieve the healthyliving award.

Catering Manager David McDonald explained: “A number of clients had been asking for healthier options, so the business was already heading in that direction for quite some time. When we received an Eat Safe award last year in recognition of food hygiene standards we were invited to apply for the healthyliving award, and thought it would be a good thing to go for.

“Yvonne Traynor, Development Co-ordinator from the healthyliving award, came and met with us and discussed how we could meet the award conditions in a business such as ours, while still being able to meet the varied needs of our clients. We have made changes across the board to our ingredients, preparation and cooking methods, and we make sure that healthier options are available to the client.  We tailor menus to suit each client, and the final choice is up to them.

“We are passionate about what we deliver, and have always focused on fresh, local produce. Now we are more conscious than ever to include plenty of healthy options in the menus we offer.”

Executive Chef Brian McDonald added: “Sourcing some of the healthier ingredients proved to be a challenge, but we found our suppliers were willing to work with us to obtain the right products. And following publicity about us getting the award, more local suppliers have come forward to offer us suitable products.

“Our daily core business is conferences, for which we offer a two-course hot and cold buffet, and fifty percent of the dishes will be healthyliving choices. We have a café in the main entrance, offering soup, sandwiches etc. and we also provide fresh fruit and water in each of the meeting rooms.”

David continued: “We are very upbeat about getting the award, and proud to have achieved it. It’s good for publicity, and sends the message that we are a flexible, health conscious business.”

So from the smallest meeting to the largest event, the catering team at AECC are leading the way in putting healthier options on the menu.

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issue twelve:
November 2009
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The healthyliving awardNHS Health Scotland - Scotland's health improvement agencyHealthier Scotland - Scottish GovernmentHealthier Scotland - Scottish Government