Edinburgh Zoo has appointed Sodexo Live! as its new catering and hospitality partner following a competitive tender process. Sodexo Live!’s specialist brand, Heritage Portfolio, will lead operations with a dedicated team based in Edinburgh.
The partnership signals a new phase for food and drink at the zoo. The focus will be on quality, consistency and alignment with the values of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), which manages the site. Together, the two organisations will develop a food culture that highlights Scottish produce, supports local suppliers and improves the visitor experience.
The food and drink plan will centre on conservation, community and engagement. Early priorities include raising quality standards across all outlets, updating menus with seasonal produce sourced from local suppliers, and building a service style that reflects the zoo’s education and conservation work.
This partnership adds Edinburgh Zoo to Sodexo Live!’s Scottish portfolio, which already includes the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and Hampden Park. The collaboration aims to strengthen the zoo’s identity and make food and drink part of the overall visitor journey.
Claire Morris, CEO of Sodexo Live! UK & Ireland, 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.”
Ben Supple, RZSS Deputy Chief Executive, 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.”
The partnership brings together Sodexo Live!’s experience in Scottish hospitality with RZSS’s mission to ‘protect, value and love nature’. Guided by a ‘Feeding Natural Curiosity’ approach, menu planning will reflect the zoo’s animals and habitats. The plan will focus on global flavours, fresh cooking, waste reduction and local community links.
Sodexo Live! delivers catering and hospitality services at major UK music, cultural and sporting events, as well as conference venues and airport lounges. It also works with leading venues across the country. Global partners include The Scottish Open, Royal Ascot and the Tour de France, along with landmark sites such as the Eiffel Tower Restaurants, the Royal Academy of Arts in London, Hard Rock Stadium and the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.