Gary Rhodes And Compass Launch Truly Local Campaign
Chef Gary Rhodes and the worlds largest caterer, Compass Group, have joined forces to tackle the confusion in the UK around the phrase local sourcing and establish a benchmark for the food service industry.
Compass Group UK & Ireland has launched its Truly British and Truly Local criteria to clearly define what British and local sourcing really means, giving clients and customers the information they need to make informed choices and opening up opportunities for small locally-based suppliers.
Gary Rhodes, who is renowned for his British cuisine, has been a Compass partner for several years through Rhodes 24 in Tower 42 and Rhodes W1 at the Cumberland Hotel. Gary said: For too long there have been a number of misleading claims in the marketplace around British and local sourcing. In some cases, companies have claimed they source locally when in fact they source from a local wholesaler and there are no guarantees that the products are genuinely British or local.
I support Compass Truly British and Truly Local criteria because it is all about local provenance and traceability. Britain has a wonderful variety of produce, much of which has strong regional characteristics. Through Compass Truly Local criteria, more people will have the opportunity to experience truly local, quality products.
One of the South of Englands top day visitor attractions, Beaulieu, supports Compass move to source Truly Local and Truly British products. Stephen Munn, Commercial Director at Beaulieu, said: We have been working with Compass to increase the number of local products used at Beaulieu, such as New Forest Ice Cream, and we are delighted to support this nation-wide initiative. There is confusion, for us and our customers, around what local sourcing really means, and we fully support Compass move to provide clear and consistent information about local products.
Truly British status will be awarded to products that have guaranteed British provenance and can be fully traced back to the source. Truly Local goes a step further and applies to products from small, local companies that are made from local ingredients and are supplied to a Compass site within a 50 mile radius. Where a product is made by a local artisan company but does not contain local or British ingredients, then it will be referred to as locally-produced.
Compass already sources a number of products that are Truly British2, such as fresh beef. Local suppliers that meet its Truly Local criteria are encouraged to register their interest on www.betrulylocal.co.uk.
To source and facilitate the distribution of these specialist local products, Compass has signed an exclusive deal with Giffords3, a specialist food distributor. Clients that will initially benefit include Bristol Zoo, Bristol Museum, Beaulieu, the Edinburgh International Conference Centre and the Wellcome Trust.
Mike Walden, Purchasing Director of Compass Group UK & Ireland, said: The launch of Truly British and Truly Local is part of our continued commitment to provenance and to creating a robust supply chain. Our clients and the general public can be confident that when Compass states a product is local then it is Truly Local with robust traceability.
Through our Truly Local supply chain, we will be able to bring new products to market and encourage local innovation. In partnership with Giffords, Compass will be supporting local products and giving them prominence in some of the most prestigious venues in the UK.
Compass decision was further reinforced by its Insight programme, a survey of 90,000 consumers in 2008, which showed that clients and consumers viewed provenance and traceability as increasingly important attributes.
Leading industry association, IGDs own research supports these findings. Joanne Denney-Finch, chief executive, IGD, said: The number of people looking for locally produced food has almost doubled in the last three years to 27%, compared to 15% in 2006. In these tough economic conditions, many people are keener than ever to support local jobs and communities through their spending choices.
1. Truly British and Truly Local Definitions:
- Truly British: products that have guaranteed British provenance and can be fully traced back to the source ie grown and harvested or born, bred and slaughtered in the UK. (Case study on British beef)
- Truly Local: products that are:
- Made within a 50-mile radius of the client site where it is used
- Made from locally produced ingredients, ie food that has been grown and harvested or born, bred and slaughtered locally
- o Small, quality craft producer, likely to be a family-run businesses with strong links with the local economy
(Case study on New Forest Ice Cream)
- Locally-produced: purchased from within a 50 mile radius of the client site. Unless the Truly British or Truly Local hallmark is used, locally-produced products do not have UK or local provenance. (Case study on Cottage Delight)
These definitions separate Compass from our competition in three ways:
- buying locally, within 50 miles, not through wholesalers
- traceability, buying direct not through wholesalers
- industry leading supply chain, dealing directly with fully audited suppliers
2. Compass Groups achievements in sourcing British food
- Purchases 100% fresh British beef (value: 6 million per annum).
- Serves 39,000,000 Lion Quality British Eggs a year, produced to the highest standards of food safety and animal welfare.
- Buys 20 million litres of milk a year; enough to fill eight Olympic swimming pools and we support 82 British farms.
- Purchases seasonal vegetables whenever we can, and 95% of what we buy is direct from British growers.
- In partnership with our suppliers, manages over 230 artisan bakeries.
- During the peak of the season (October-November 2009), sources 100% English apples and pears.
3. About Giffords
Giffords was originally established in 1985 as a fishmonger selling to domestic marketplace, supplying local caterers through the 1990s, when it was joined by Caroline Taysom in 1995 as Managing Director.
After passing though the hands of several different companies, Giffords was purchased by Bidvest in March 2009. Under its new ownership, the Giffords brand is now being relaunched and developed back to its former strength, with Caroline back in the driving seat, as Managing Director again.
The backing of Bidvest provides Giffords with a secure and sustainable parent, and now Giffords can offer customers national coverage, and seamless delivery of great food alongside creative cuisine and fantastic fine foods that inspire chefs and helps them to stay ahead of the curve.
About Compass Group UK & Ireland
Compass Group UK & Ireland provides foodservices and support services at a wide range of sites to clients and customers in the workplace, at schools and colleges, hospitals, at leisure and in defence, offshore and remote locations.