Orchid slams calorie labelling

Momentum has been growing for mandatory calorie labelling, with the British Hospitality Association (BHA) advising operators to make the change now before legislation is introduced.

The BHA believes that could happen by 2013. Orchid Group commercial and people director Simon Dodd defended the group’s right to avoid calorie labelling, likening the move to the Government’s ‘war on smoking’ in the run-up to the 2007 ban.

“The industry is under pressure and it would entail a massive cost,” he said, referring to menu printing and trialling.
Head of food for the 300-site operator, Sarah Thomas, said the demand for such a move was not there from customers and there were other ways to encourage sensible eating.

“We tackle it a different way through menu options rather than a blanket system for everyone,” she said.

“The way we operate with different ranges and equipment, it would be difficult to label accurately. It is about making sensible choices.”

Whitbread Group, which operates mainstream brands including Beefeater, confirmed that calories will not be put on menus, but a spokesman said the team is “thinking very hard” about how to present them online.

JD Wetherspoon will be the next pub operator to put calories on menus, having offered nutritional data on its website since last year.

The firm will introduce calorie counts when it next changes its menu. M&B brand Harvester introduced calories on menus in March and McDonald’s brought in calorie labelling last week.