05.02.2026

Medirest Launches Enhanced Plant-Powered Menu Trial With Greener by Default

Medirest, the healthcare sector of Compass Group UK & Ireland, has launched its plant-powered menu trial, developed in partnership with leading research body, ‘Greener by Default’. As the first UK hospital caterer to test the principle across both patient dining, as well as staff and visitor restaurants simultaneously – its team of Dietitians, Sustainability Leads and Chefs are working to drive change and monitor success.

Medirest is working with Greener by Default, a nonprofit organisation that helps institutions in healthcare and beyond harness behavioural science to promote plant-forward dining. Together they will implement trials across six UK hospitals including patient, staff and visitor menus. The organisations will assess how increasing the availability and accessibility of vegan and vegetarian meals impacts several metrics such as uptake, menu carbon footprint, nutrition and customer satisfaction.

The trial will build on Medirest’s use of behavioural science techniques, such as nudge theory to guide its approach to menu design and presentation. This specifically aims to further enhance uptake of plant-based choices and more sustainable proteins. Other levers being drawn on include menu placement hierarchy - plant-based dishes at the top of menus through to red meat at the bottom and recipe naming convention - removing the word ‘vegan’, with a focus on descriptions based on provenance and flavour.

The hospitals which will run the trial were selected based on location, to ensure geographical diversity, as well as staff and patient demographics, and the inpatient services they provide.

The patient catering menus have been developed for certain patient groups who are considered ‘nutritionally well’ and have been analysed by the Dietetic team to ensure patients’ needs can still be met. Patients who may need a special diet will continue to have access to appropriate menus.

Examples of new menu items that have been developed for staff and visitor restaurants include plant-based options like Hong Kong Style Sweet & Sour Baby Corn and Mangetout Stir Fry, and New York Spicy Bean Bake with Herby Garlic Bread.

The trial launched in January and will take place for three months. This will allow Medirest and its clients to analyse data and agree next steps. The data sets will be compared to the previous three months and the same period last year. 

Rees Bramwell, Compass One, Sustainability Director commented: “As we look at ways to deliver a more positive impact on health and sustainability, this trial has never been so important. We want to use data and insights to help the people we serve to eat better. The outcome of the next three months will further drive this ambition and we will be able to use the information to support our clients within hospitals across the NHS and healthcare as a whole.”

Saachi Avis, Head of Dietetics, Healthcare – Compass Group UK & Ireland: “By expanding our plant-based offerings, whilst maintaining a variety of protein sources, we’re proud to meet the growing demand for delicious, nutritious, and sustainable choices.

This research will help us to get more feedback on our menus and meals, as we continually look to enhance our offers. Whether it’s supporting patient’s nutritional needs or fuelling the workforce, we understand our responsibility and will continue to maintain this evidence-led and holistic approach to menu development.”

Amy Roach, UK Healthcare Manager, Greener by Default said: "After nearly a year of strategic collaboration, Greener by Default couldn’t be more pleased to support Medirest as they pilot strategies to reduce the carbon footprint of their menus, while balancing nutrition and diner satisfaction. Compass has taken a deliberate approach to this effort, working with GBD to develop a pilot plan that aligns sustainability goals with operational excellence.

A priority for this partnership is the focus on data, and significant effort has been dedicated to ensuring all results collected are valid and reliable. On the ground, the Medirest teams have worked hard to ensure meals meet nutritional standards and to provide training to front-line staff. This focus on staff engagement, including taste-testing sessions, has been key to dispelling misconceptions and building excitement across the teams. Given Compass’s reputation and reach, we look forward to analysing the results of this initiative and the potential for further impact following this pilot."

Medirest is part of Compass One, which brings together the specialist expertise of Compass Group UK & Ireland’s ESS, Healthcare and One Retail sectors.