Caterlink led the top five in the ranking, followed by ISS, Dolce, Sodexo, and Olive Dining
Caterlink has been named England’s leading school caterer for their sustainability efforts, with over half of its main meal offerings now plant-based. The results, published today in ProVeg UK’s second annual School Contract Caterer Ranking, highlight the growing need for school caterers to adopt menus that put the health of the planet, and their pupils, at the heart.
Assessing 37 of England’s key school caterers, the ranking reviews various elements including the quality and promotion of plant-based dishes, and the transparency and communication of the benefits of plant-based foods.
Caterlink, specialist caterers in the education sector, comes out on top. Their focus on quality ingredients and their championing of sustainable options across their menus put them in the top spot in this year’s ranking.
- Over half of their main meal options are plant-based
- Vegetarian and plant-based options are positioned at the top of the menus to nudge more healthy and sustainable choices
- Out of the 15 days in the menu cycle, 11 offer a plant-based main, side, and dessert
Caterlink is followed by ISS, Dolce, Sodexo, and Olive Dining in the ranking’s top five.
A report last year showed that 66% of the public surveyed are open to the idea of reducing their meat consumption (Eating Better, Food Foundation – Public attitudes survey 2025), and according to a UNICEF report, nine out of ten children are worried about climate change, with 89% of children saying they don’t feel enough is being done to tackle the climate crisis. With a growing shift towards healthier and more sustainable food choices, school caterers have the potential to lead with positive change.
As the UK government faces increasing pressure to meet net-zero targets, school canteens offer a prime opportunity to lead the way with healthy and sustainable food. A report released this year found that school food is the single largest source of emissions for primary schools.
Responding to the results of the ranking, Alex Jemison, Awards & Engagement Manager at ProVeg UK, said, “This ranking gives us the opportunity to recognise the sustainable leaders in school contract catering, and allows schools to choose caterers who clearly align with their goals. We’re delighted at how many caterers showed an appetite to engage with our work and after last year’s success we have extended the ranking to include even more organisations this year.
“Alongside the 118 catering partners that we work with or have supported through our School Plates programme, we’re delighted that we can celebrate the wider efforts of those paving the way to more plant-focussed and sustainable school food, for children, and the planet.”
ProVeg UK developed the ranking after it was clear that the lack of information for schools and local governments was hindering their ability to compare planet-friendly catering providers that aligned with their sustainability goals. The scoring system evaluates the promotion of plant-based foods, the quality of plant-based dishes, and how well these are communicated on their websites.
“We’re thrilled to be recognised as the ProVeg top-ranked contract caterer for 2025,” Anya Paulden, MSc ANutr, said. “Providing sustainable choices and reducing our environmental impact is a core priority – not only for everyone at Caterlink, but also for the pupils we serve every day. Our partnership with ProVeg has inspired thoughtful, innovative updates to our menus and helped us enhance the skills of our kitchen teams, empowering them to create delicious, plant‑based dishes. We look forward to continuing our partnership and bringing sustainable menus to our customers every day,” Anya added.
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Notes to Editors
For media inquiries, email Jade Chapman at [email protected]
Methodology:
The thirty-seven caterers were selected for the ranking based on their influence, an increase from the twenty-five last year, taking into account their turnover but also the number of schools catered for. ProVeg UK partnered with a carbon analyst to score their menus and websites against evidence-based actions to promote planet-friendly dishes. The full ranking is available on our site [LINK]
Top 5 in the ranking:
1 Caterlink
2 ISS
3 Dolce
4 Sodexo
5 Olive Dining
About Caterlink
Caterlink already holds multiple School Plates Silver Awards for their plant-forward menus (for Islington, Camden and Tudor Grange Academies Trust.) The scope for impact is considerable with Caterlink, which caters for more than 1,767 educational settings. Their future-forward menu came out on top, with over half the main menu options being plant-based. Dishes include the likes of “Chef’s Special Lentil Curry with Rice and Homemade Flatbread”, “Creamy Chickpea and Coconut Curry with Rice”, “Lentil and Basil Whirl with Wedges.” They offer weekly planet-friendly days in their schools, and plant-rich options are clearly labelled and celebrated as the top option on the menu every day.
About School Plates
ProVeg UK’s School Plates programme helps school caterers to make small changes to menus that can have a big impact on children’s health and the health of the planet. Our Awards form part of the School Plates programme and incentivise our partners to work towards plant-forward and more sustainable menus.
School Plates works to increase the quality, quantity and uptake of plant-rich and plant-based options on school menus, working with 118 catering partners that cover 12,700 schools.
- Our School Plates brochures: The Guide and The Recipes can be downloaded for free here.
- School Plates has featured in several mainstream media TV pieces, available to watch here.
About ProVeg UK
ProVeg UK works with local authorities and school caterers to increase the nutritional value and sustainability of school food. By reviewing menus and providing expert advice, new recipes, and plant-based cooking workshops, ProVeg increases the quality and quantity of plant-based food in schools.
About ProVeg International
Our vision is a world where the food we eat is good for all people, animals, and our planet.
Our mission is to accelerate the transition to a sustainable global food system by making plant-rich foods and alternative proteins more accessible and appealing.
