Sodexo Live! has been appointed as the catering and hospitality partner for Edinburgh Zoo, promising ‘a new era in the zoo’s food and beverage experience’, with a focus on quality, consistency – and alignment with the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s conservation mission.
Following a competitive tendering process, Sodexo’s Edinburgh-based Heritage Portfolio brand has won the contract to lead the zoo’s F&B operations.
Drawing on its local expertise in retail and event catering, Heritage Portfolio aims to shape a distinctive on-site food culture that uses Scottish ingredients, supports local producers, and enhances the visitor’ experience.
Early priorities to be delivered are improved quality and consistency across the site, refreshed menus with seasonal produce in collaboration with local suppliers, and the establishment of a service culture that mirrors the zoo’s educational and conservation values.
CEO of Sodexo Live! UK & Ireland, Claire Morris, said: “Edinburgh Zoo is a world-class visitor attraction, and this partnership gives us the unique opportunity to really transform the catering offering to reflect RZSS’s vision.
“By positioning Edinburgh Zoo as a place of global exploration and education – a living classroom for all – we want to create a sense of culinary adventure and discovery through exciting, diverse global flavours aligned to the animals’ natural habitats.
“We want our food to be more than just a service – we want it to add joy and make visitors’ zoo experience even more immersive and meaningful.”
RZSS deputy chief executive Ben Supple, said: “We want to provide visitors to Edinburgh Zoo with the very best experience as this will encourage more people to learn about and protect our natural world.
“Catering is an essential part of that and we are looking forward to working in partnership with the Sodexo Live! and Heritage Portfolio team to develop an exceptional offer which celebrates local, high quality and sustainable produce.”
This new partnership will seek inspiration from the zoo’s animals and their habitats, to create a ‘Feeding Natural Curiosity’ philosophy that will guide menu development, emphasise global flavours, from-scratch cooking, zero-waste initiatives, and community partnerships.
Edinburgh Zoo joins an array of high profile Scottish cultural venues partnered with Sodexo Live!, including V&A Dundee, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Signet Library and Hampden Park.
