How authentic leadership and a hands-on partnership drove CIRFOOD’s transformation in foodservice sustainability

“We don’t do sustainability for show. For CIRFOOD, change is built in—woven into our people, our procurement, and our decisions. Nexio Projects helped us turn a vision into real results.”

– Pieter Vader, Marketing Manager and Sustainability Manager for CIRFOOD NL & Belgocatering

CIRFOOD Netherlands and Belgocatering have long believed that sustainability must be “built-in”, not “bolt-on” — woven into the fabric of the company, its people, and the food it sources. Yet in a fast-evolving industry, ambition alone does not always deliver results. In recent years, a dynamic partnership with Nexio Projects has helped CIRFOOD transform vision into operational reality, using a toolkit of carbon footprinting, certification, and bespoke engagement strategies to set – and achieve- ambitious sustainability goals.

From DNA to impact: A sustainability journey

“At CIRFOOD Netherlands and Belgocatering, sustainability is not about show – it’s intrinsic to who we are,” says Pieter Vader, Marketing Manager and Sustainability Manager for CIRFOOD NL & Belgocatering. “The most important KPI for us remains the number of people we can support through work. That social aspect is inseparable from our commitment to the environment.”

This passion stems from CIRFOOD’s history, where successive leaders have championed a five-pillar procurement strategy and investments in robust change, like the shift to 100% electric fleets. Despite having shown caution to communicate their achievements, the team now sees the value in sharing their story. “By documenting our journey, we can inspire and lead authentically,” Pieter explains.

The challenge: Turning ambition into structure

The foodservice sector is notoriously complex – its impact shaped 80% by procurement and the food bought, demanding close collaboration between sustainability managers, buyers, and product teams. For CIRFOOD NL and Belgocatering, the organisational challenge was not a lack of will, but the need for documentation, coherent data, and a practical framework for continuous improvement.

“We suffered a bit from ‘greenhushing’ – overshadowing our efforts because we weren’t sure they were enough,” Pieter recalls. “But Nexio Projects helped us map out where we could make the most material impact, and then communicate it clearly, inside and outside the business.”

Nexio Projects’ approach: Strategy, partnership, action

Four years ago, CIRFOOD NL and Belgocatering invited Nexio Projects to pitch their services. As Stefano Teatini, General Manager, shares:

“They were very smart and driven. In under half an hour, it was clear we needed to shift direction. Nexio Projects made it easy to see the mountaintop.”

The transformation began with roadmaps and assessments that spanned EcoVadis certification, Scope 1, 2, and 3 carbon footprinting, and annual reporting for the United Nations Global Compact. Instead of isolated interventions, Nexio Projects offered a partnership built on agility and accountability. “We started out just aiming for compliance,” says Stefano, “but over time, we found purpose – and now we’re truly making an impact.”

Concrete examples show the power of this partnership:

Electric fleet rollout: Scope 1 & 2 analysis identified electrifying the fleet as the most material change – so Nexio Projects’ roadmap justified a transition that reduced emissions, with immediate results.

Scope 3 supplier engagement: “We want to be climate-neutral by 2030. With Nexio Projects’ analysis, we found our biggest impact was in supplier choices and the composition of our menus,” says Pieter. Today, several clients already offer around 80% vegetarian menus.

Clean labels and code of conduct: “Our code of conduct goes beyond plant-based products; we cut additives for genuinely clean labels. The shift isn’t just environmental -it’s about real food quality,” Pieter explains.

Parallel assessments: By centralising data and running assessments for CIRFOOD NL and Belgocatering in tandem, resources are shared and lessons applied across both entities, strengthening results and internal collaboration.

Stakeholder engagement: Nexio Projects helped train CIRFOOD Netherlands & Belgocatering teams to build capacity and maintain momentum even after initial certifications, embedding ESG in every department. “They challenge us to aim higher, operationalise strategy, and close tactical gaps” Pieter admits.

Hear more from our customers, how we support them through diverse ESG topics.

Results: recognition, reputation, and resilience

With roadmap in hand, CIRFOOD Netherlands leapt past their initial goal, going from Silver to Platinum EcoVadis status in just 18 months—and sustaining it twice in a row.

Global Leadership: The Platinum rating places CIRFOOD NL and Belgocatering in the top 1% of foodservice companies worldwide, providing a strong narrative for tenders and client relations.

Operational Impact: Electric fleets, robust supplier code of conduct, and data-driven menu innovation each originated from Nexio Projects’ guidance, generating measurable reduction in emissions and boosting team engagement.

Storytelling and Change Leadership: “We’re not just meeting standards – we’re setting them. Nexio Projects helps us communicate our achievements and shape new KPIs for our teams and suppliers,” says Stefano.

Watch our video testimonial from last year, with Stefano Teatini to leanr more about the ongoing collaboration of Nexio Projects with CIRFOOD NL & Belgocatering.

Transcription

They are very smart, very driven.

We first started simply aiming to be compliant. Then we began to understand the purpose behind the work — and now we are truly making an impact.

My name is Stéphan Tini, General Manager of CIRFOOD Netherlands and Belgocatering in Belgium. We are a catering company, and one of our core ambitions is to offer healthy, sustainable food to every client we serve. Our sustainability approach centres on three main pillars: food, people, and culture.

We met Nexio Projects just before COVID. They pitched to us, and it was an excellent pitch — in just 20 to 25 minutes, they convinced us that we needed to shift direction. They made it very easy to see the “mountaintop”, helping us create a clear sustainability roadmap. Now, four years later, we have achieved the EcoVadis Platinum medal for the second year in a row.

They support us across every part of our sustainability journey: from the annual EcoVadis assessment to calculating our Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, and assisting with our yearly communication progress report for the United Nations Global Compact.

The team is young, smart, and incredibly driven. You can feel that they are motivated by sustainability — they know their work, they love their work, and their enthusiasm encourages us, as a client, to go further than we originally thought possible.

We work closely with local farmers, and we have redesigned our menus — today, around 80% of our dishes are already vegetarian, which significantly helps reduce our environmental footprint.

Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do.

Looking ahead: A blueprint for others

CIRFOOD’s ambition remains bold: Achieving net zero, ongoing procurement transformation, and sector leadership. “We hope our journey inspires others” says Pieter.

“If you’re serious about sustainability, be intrinsic about your motivation. Build it into your DNA, set ambitious goals, and let partnerships like ours shape the path.”

Nexio Projects continues to support CIRFOOD in evaluating next steps – climate neutrality, deepening supplier audits, and maintaining platinum-level performance as standards shift. By embedding frameworks like UNGC and CSRD, CIRFOOD looks toward greater transparency and impact across all locations.

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CIRFOOD’s multi-year sustainability partnership with Nexio Projects: From vision to leadership