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Pasta Evangelists is leading the way in the hospitality sector as all 47 of its locations have met the requirements to become Safe to Trade Approved, the consumer standard devoted to the improvement of food safety, hygiene and food standards.

Through the fulfilment of takeaway delivery orders, make-at-home recipe kits, and across four dine-in restaurants, customers can have confidence in every Pasta Evangelists’ experience and be safe in the knowledge that the highest standards of food safety and hygiene have been achieved and maintained.

With 78% of consumers actively seeking food hygiene ratings or related information before dining out or ordering a takeaway*, visibility of food safety and hygiene standards is no longer optional – it is a business imperative. As the first voluntary, third-party assurance programme in the hospitality industry, Safe to Trade is helping businesses to build trust, confidence and loyalty among their customers, especially among high-value, risk-aware customer groups such as people with allergies.

Aligned with the latest food safety requirements and incorporating recommendations, Safe to Trade enhances consumer confidence by addressing the growing demand for up-to-date food safety and hygiene information – particularly as consumers report feeling significantly more assured when food hygiene inspections are less than a year old*. Safe to Trade supports the existing Food Hygiene Rating Scheme, but with several key differences; it requires businesses to be checked every year across all areas of food safety and hygiene, including front-of-house cleanliness, allergen management, and food labelling – addressing key areas of consumer concern.

Speaking on Safe to Trade, Debra Piergentili, Quality and Safety Director at Pasta Evangelists, commented: “Safe to Trade is there to protect the consumer.  Finally, we found a consumer standard tailored to hospitality, something which did not exist before Safe to Trade. While we are well acquainted with certification bodies in manufacturing, restaurants and dark kitchens did not have a standard to comply with. For the first time ever, Pasta Evangelists had something to strive for in terms of food safety and hygiene standards.”

Safe to Trade was developed in collaboration with independent industry experts and regulators. Pasta Evangelists’ audits were conducted by highly trained, competent, and impartial Environmental Health Practitioners from Shield Safety, a certification body for Safe to Trade.

Approved businesses are listed on the online Safe to Trade register, allowing consumers to make informed choices about the food they eat, whether dining in or taking away. about what they eat. Providing this transparency helps to build trust between businesses and customers, driving opportunities for business growth.

Debra Piergentili added: “Quality and safety have always been at the heart of what we do, and of course, that matters most to our customers. Safe to Trade allows us to demonstrate our commitment to safety and as we grow our business, it allows us to maintain consistent high quality and safety across all 47 locations – whether it’s for takeaway, delivery, at-home recipe kits, or in our restaurants.”

John Barnes – Ex Head of Local Delivery at the Food Standards Agency and member of the Safe to Trade Independent Governance Board added: “Safe to Trade helps the sector thrive by protecting people, strengthening reputations, and building consumer confidence – all of which drive business success. Food operators need a credible way to demonstrate due diligence, and their efforts deserve recognition. Safe to Trade supports them in staying compliant so they can focus on what matters most: running and growing their business.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Pasta Evangelists to the programme, having achieved Safe to Trade Approved status across all locations – the trusted consumer standard that puts health first and gives customers confidence in a safe experience, every time. Congratulations to the entire team on this fantastic achievement.”

To find out more, visit: https://safetotrade.org.uk/

*Flanagan, M.A. and Soon-Sinclair, J.M. (2024) Consumers’ perceptions of regulatory food hygiene inspections of restaurants and takeaways, British Food Journal.