The Vegetarian for Life (VfL) Awards for Excellence in Vegetarian and Vegan Care Catering were held in October in the Jubilee Room at the Houses of Parliament.
High-profile presenters including actors Peter Egan and Paul Higgins and campaigner Heather Mills joined care-home and hospital caterers, suppliers, and advocates to celebrate innovation, compassion, and dignity in vegetarian and vegan care meals.
Satpal Kambo of Garden City Court, Quantum Care, was named Care/Hospital Caterer of the Year for transforming plant-based dining through resident-led menu development and imaginative weekly meals.
Philip Meyer of Avery Healthcare won recognition for creating inventive, commercially viable vegan dishes, while Suma was celebrated as Supplier of the Year for its ethical, sustainable, and largely vegan product range.
Maureen Behan of Little Sisters of the Poor received special recognition for over 30 years of dedicated service, consistently delivering nutritious, personalised meals with heart.
The ceremony also featured vegan rights campaigner Jordi Casamitjana, who spoke about the legal recognition of ethical veganism as a protected philosophical belief, and award sponsor Neil Duncan-Jordan MP, who emphasised the importance of vegetarian and vegan choices in care settings. Interactive workshops encouraged delegates to explore practical ways to make plant-based meals a standard of care rather than an exception.
VfL chief executive Amanda Woodvine said: “We’re here to celebrate something much deeper – the people who understand that food isn’t for show; it’s for meaning. In every care setting, food is one of the most tangible expressions of respect. It’s where belief, culture and dignity all come together on a plate. And when we get that right – it’s not just good catering – it’s good care. Today’s awards celebrate care providers and caterers who’ve turned compassion into daily practice, and belief into action. What you do changes lives – and today, we’re here to recognise that.”
