Bord Bia, the Irish Food Board, has almost doubled the number of catering outlets that have signed up to its quality assurance food programme, with the recruitment of Campbell Catering Ltd.

The Bord's Féile Bia programme commits food service operators to sourcing products from Quality Assured schemes and has been operating for over three years.

Up to the end of May, the Féile Bia scheme had been supported by 300 hotels, restaurants and pubs, which will now be joined by Campbell Catering's 300 outlets throughout the country. Campbell Catering is Ireland's leading contract catering company, with a 45 per cent share of the market.

The company's managing director, Ms Joan O'Shaughnessy, said the company used fresh, quality, local produce where possible.

"We prepare food for 150,000 customers daily. Féile Bia now offers us the opportunity to exhibit our commitment to food traceability and food quality," she said.

Participants in the scheme flag their involvement by displaying a blue-framed Féile Bia certificate in their outlets.

The Gresham Hotel Group and Jurys Doyle Group joined the scheme earlier this year.