Sodexo passes with flying colours

The Sodexo-operated lounge achieved the rating, the highest that can be awarded to a catering facility, following an unannounced food hygiene inspection by environmental health officers. Sodexo was judged in three main categories: hygiene and safety compliance (including food handling practices, procedures and temperature control), structural compliance (including cleanliness, layout, ventilation and facilities), and confidence in management. In the confidence in management category, the company was scored according to criteria including its willingness to act on previous advice and enforcement, complaint history, the attitude of management towards hygiene and food safety, documented procedures and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) based food safety management systems. Sodexo has operated the first class passenger club lounge at Gatwick Airport since 2002; providing hospitality services for an average of 90 passengers a day, 365 days a year. The team of seven employees is responsible for preparing and serving food, providing a range of other soft services including front of house, cleaning, invoicing, and managing all maintenance issues. Vicky Beckett, Sodexo's account manager for Gatwick Airport Airside club lounge said: "We are required by law to display our 'scores on the door' and are proud to offer visitors a visible guarantee that our on site food hygiene standards have been judged as excellent."