Taking workplace dining to the next level

Great food does more than satisfy hunger; it brings people together and makes the office a place where employees are excited to come to. At ISS, we believe that high-quality workplace dining is a key lever in boosting engagement with our people and making every commute worthwhile.

As a global leader in food services, we’re transforming workplace dining to meet the expectations of today’s workforce for more than 70 organisations at 350 sites across the UK & Ireland. But our food offering isn’t just about serving up meals; it’s about creating moments of connection and belonging that align with the energy of the modern workplace. 

In 2024, we were proud to launch two new retail food brands, The Place and The Whole Grain, designed to support how employees connect, collaborate and thrive through food. As food and drink landscapes continue to rapidly evolve, ISS’s innovative dining solutions are keeping pace with high street trends while meeting workplace-specific demands. 

The Place satisfies the needs of busy professionals, delivering quick, affordable meals that offer a better alternative to the high street. The Whole Grain elevates this offer further through premium dining that rivals the quality of the best restaurants, including plant-based and locally sourced options to suit any palette.

Elevating the office food experience

The workplace restaurant is no longer just a canteen. The ‘delivery revolution’ of quality food availability since the pandemic has raised standards for convenience, speed and personalisation in food in the office, with employees now expecting their workplace dining to match and exceed the quality and efficiency found on the high street. Since launching at 36 initial sites in 2024, The Place has helped to drive an impressive increase in restaurant sales, reflecting its appeal as a convenient, value-for-money option that rivals high street offerings. One contract saw a 40% year-on-year increase in restaurant sales in the six months since after launching The Place.

But it’s not just about the dining experience. Our recent Evolving Workplaces report found that 83% of professionals today think workplace sustainability is important, including sustainable food and drink options. We’ve listened to this feedback, which is why The Whole Grain champions premium, sustainable dishes which incorporate responsibly sourced ingredients that cater to a different dietary preference, while The Place balances planet-friendly and healthy options with familiar favourites.

Beyond being good for the environment, The Place and The Whole Grain are proactively supporting local communities and promoting social sustainability. Our brands champion partnerships with well-sourced British vendors, ensuring fresh, high-quality ingredients that help to support local economies and embrace our social sustainability mission. Our dining experiences foster a stronger sense of community and creating positive, purpose-led environments for our customers.

Making space for convenience and collaboration

Today’s professionals want options when it comes to what they eat, and ISS knows how to deliver them. Our food offerings incorporate tech-driven innovations like click-and-collect, AI tills and pop-up options to mirror the speed and convenience of the high street, while flexible restaurant designs offer quiet areas for respite and vibrant spaces for meaningful collaboration.

That’s because we believe the workplace dining is about more than food — it’s about creating a sense of community. Our research identified that 64% of employees say workplace experiences would motivate them to spend more time in the office, with curated food options being the strongest motivator. By drawing on our extensive expertise in restaurants and hospitality, ISS’s food specialists have made workplace dining fun, fast and more efficient, allowing diners to focus on what matters — connection and collaboration.

A new era of workplace dining

With over a million meals served daily worldwide, ISS is leading the charge to transform workplace dining into a driver of wellbeing and productivity through The Place and The Whole Grain. These brands mark a new era of workplace dining — one that prioritises flexibility, innovation, and employee satisfaction. As we expand to serve more customers, we’re excited by the possibilities to shape the future of workplace culture.

That’s why, at ISS, we believe that we’re not just serving meals — we’re building communities, one bite at a time.

Emily McKay is Restaurant Brand Manager for ISS UK & Ireland.