Thomas Kneale and Co. Ltd SODEXO’S 2023 SME OF THE YEAR
The Sodexo “Stop Hunger” Foundation is an employee-led initiative conceived and promoted by Sodexo to tackle food poverty and insecurity in regional communities across the UK, Ireland and beyond. 100% of the donations made to “Stop Hunger” go directly to financing activities and sustainable solutions for disadvantaged communities to exit food insecurity . For example, it gives families on lower incomes the opportunity to give their children the nutrition they need to grow into healthy adults; and gives disadvantaged young people a better understanding of how they can live a healthier lifestyle.
On Wednesday 1st March, Sodexo held their much-awaited Gala dinner at Headingley Stadium in Leeds to raise money for those in hunger poverty and it was very successful indeed. This was proceeded by their “Partners with Purpose” conference to which a small group of strategic supplier partners were invited. The Sodexo line up was very impressive including Sean Haley (CEO, UK & Ireland), Paul Anstey ( CEO, Sodexo government) , Phil Smith (CEO, Schools and Universities), Francois Blanckaert (CPO) ,Patrick Forbes (Head of Supply management) and several other Heads of Procurement and Supplier Management.
An important part of the day’s events was to make five category awards for outstanding partnership with Sodexo based on nominations made by Sodexo employees and the leadership team with categories centred around Sodexo’s values. The award categories were :
Service Spirit
Team Spirit
Spirit of Progress
Special award
SME supplier of the Year
Sodexo has over 4,400 suppliers in the UK with a large proportion of them SMEs like Thomas Kneale, so it was with huge pride that Richard J. Manville MD and Brett Mendell , Director had the privilege to accept the award of “SME of the Year, 2023” on behalf of Thomas Kneale and Co. Ltd
Thomas Kneale was selected on the basis of outstanding and industry leading service levels, participation on mentoring programme with Net Zero, Ecovadis guidance and development within Sodexo, and for being a supplier of over 20 years that truly understands their customers’ needs and meets them consistently.
