Sodexo UK & Ireland has officially opened its flagship Modern Recipe restaurant, a new concept in workplace dining, with a launch event led by renowned chef Kate Austen. The restaurant, located at the global head office of a major PLC, marks a key step in Sodexo’s commitment to transforming corporate dining by offering healthy, sustainable, and exciting meal options tailored to today’s workforce.

The Modern Recipe concept emphasizes the use of responsibly sourced ingredients to create a wide variety of dishes, ensuring that customers can enjoy flavorful, nutritious food throughout the day. This all-day dining model provides flexibility to suit the needs of modern employees with changing schedules, offering everything from breakfast to lunch and snacks.

With the capacity to serve up to 1,500 people daily, the restaurant has been designed to provide a relaxed yet dynamic atmosphere. The newly renovated space features digital screens and wayfinding tools to enhance the customer experience. The restaurant is organized into three main serving areas, including a large salad bar with a hot protein section, ensuring a wide selection of meal options.

The menu, which reflects global culinary trends, includes dishes such as Panko chicken Katsu, sweet potato Bobo with Brazilian rice, and a range of bistro-style offerings like Teriyaki tuna steak and grilled lamb Kofta. A Chapter & Verse coffee bar also serves premium coffee, made from 100% Arabica beans sourced from Brazil and Colombia, alongside sandwiches, wraps, and baguettes for those seeking quick bites. Additionally, the café provides a click-and-collect option for employees on the go.

Chef Kate Austen’s involvement brings a fresh perspective to the Modern Recipe brand. At the launch event, she shared her culinary expertise, offering tips and discussing her vision for creating dining spaces that nurture both the body and mind. “Modern Recipe is all about bringing people together through food, creating memorable moments, and offering a space where employees can relax and connect,” she said. Austen also previewed some signature dishes she is developing with the Sodexo team, which will be introduced to the menu later this fall.

Lynsey O’Keefe, CEO of Corporate Services and Energy & Resources at Sodexo UK & Ireland, emphasized that the restaurant embodies the company’s commitment to sustainability and employee well-being. “This flagship Modern Recipe restaurant is a significant step for us in delivering sustainable and valuable dining experiences. We aim to offer a place where people can come together, enjoy good food, and build a sense of community within the workplace,” she said.

Sodexo’s Modern Recipe brand is already present at more than 30 locations across the UK, catering to various industries such as energy, financial services, pharmaceuticals, and technology. These outlets range from large restaurants and cafés to smaller formats like kitchenettes, micro-markets, and smart fridges. Each location reflects the brand’s ethos of offering high-quality, sustainable food while enhancing the workplace environment.

The launch of this flagship restaurant highlights the continued expansion of Modern Recipe, with plans to extend the brand’s presence across more Sodexo client sites in the near future. By incorporating elements from popular high-street food concepts into the corporate setting, Modern Recipe aims to make dining at work both enjoyable and convenient.