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Our Ethos:
As explained by Michelle
We feel that as business people running a catering business, we are very much in a position of responsibility. Hundreds of
customers eat here each week and they come here because they trust us to use good quality ingredients, prepare fresh
food and provide value for money.
We take this responsibility very seriously but we take it a step further. Our contact with
our customers means we can also help educate and inform them about the food industry so they in turn can make their
own informed decisions.
Likewise, if we choose our suppliers carefully we can support those who work responsibly and have
a conscience about what they do.
Behind the scenes there is an awful lot going on. We don't just 'talk the talk' by boasting that we use free range eggs or
organic milk or that our food is free from preservatives, additives and flavour enhancers. We are extremely proactive.
We take this part of the business very seriously and hence spend hours and hours each week reading trade magazines,
press releases on food and ethical issues, studying relevant web sites for up to date information, conversing with the various
organisations such as The Soil Association, Defra, North West Fine Foods, Farmers union, RSPCA etc in order to ensure
we know as much information as possible about what is involved in the food industry.
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We know how our ingredients are produced and by who.
What exactly does organic, free range, freedom food and fair trade mean?
The labelling used to trick
us into believing food is produced ethically and with our health in mind. Of course it is impossible to know everything especially
as such a small business but at least we try and we do our very best with the resources we have available to us.
We visit the farmers and growers of many of our foods to ensure that they follow correct procedures, high standards
of animal welfare, and do not exploit their workers. We also support those who in turn have a conscience and work ethically.
What is the point in supporting a small farmer by going out of our way (the logistics and cost of using lots of small suppliers
is a nightmare) to buy from them and promote their products if they then use masses of preservatives in their products to
make a bigger profit? Those however who are passionate and spend hours and hours painstakingly caring for their animals
through all weathers, then make their cheese or meats using old traditional artisan skills deserve all the support they can get
from us and you the customer even if it costs a little more.
So in brief here are our ethics and standards.
- We do not support intensive farming. Only the highest animal welfare standards.
- We are stringent about the quality of our products. Fair trade or organic doesn't automatically mean high quality.
It can be the total opposite. So when sourcing and tasting this is how we do it:
First in line of importance is the manufacturing process. Least or no added preservatives, additives, flavour enhancers,
hydrogenated fats, artificial flavourings, sweeteners etc, full on flavour and quality ingredients such as unrefined sugar,
unbleached flour, vanilla extract not flavouring etc, use of seasonal ingredients and local where possible.
Once we have found the best quality, then we try to choose from local suppliers and farmers first, then we look regionally,
then nationally and finally internationally being very aware about food miles all along the process.
- We support fair trade principles if the quality has not been compromised. However it is important to know that exploitation
of workers and producers happens in England too so those principles apply to the community we live in as well.
- We try to buy products packaged in recyclable or biodegradable materials and we recycle all our glass, cardboard, paper
and soon (Wirral is due to start a plastic recycling service by Jan 2007) plastic too.
- We use ecological cleaning products where possible although currently this is extremely difficult as we are unable to find
ecological products which are also antibacterial and approved for use by Environmental Health.
- We are currently awaiting the end of our contract with our electricity supplier so that we can switch to a Green electricity supplier.
- We are soon to start composting all our food waste.
- We are looking into rain harvesting to collect water for use in the garden.
Supermarkets. Sadly, however much we want to avoid buying from supermarkets it is a necessity in respect to where we live and
what is available to us. In order to offer such a varied menu of fresh food we need to purchase some products from the supermarket.
However, we still incorporate our ethos into this and we are happy to see that supermarkets are bowing under consumer pressure
and are starting to also source and support local produce and artisan producers. A small example of how each and every one of us
holds the power to effect big change!
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