No Stings

Wasps - a real problem this summer but at least Steff's Kitchen cafe at Fairweather's garden centre in Beaulieu has addressed the issue.

 There is much to commend at Steff's Kitchen - Comment cards are posted with replies.

 Patrick's Patch - their community garden.

Real food for children and their Kitchen Quality Guarantee.

Farm to City

 My colleague Ian Doughty liked the local sourcing story at Farm in the centre of the City at Farringdon

Pork, Pickle & Fly

Guest Spot

 
Pork & Pickle at East Midlands Airport was spotted by Holkham's Johanna Tennant. Local supplier Dickinson and Morris, based in Melton Mowbray, have supplied them with a range of local cakes, pork pies and pork sausages.

A good example of local sourcing.

Local Produce

When you run the catering at gardens linked to Kew Gardens and the National Trust you need to get the local sourcing right.

   Ampersand make a good job at Wakehurst.

Toast Local

 Eden Project cafe in St Austell has serve-yourself toast and teacake station.

 Excellent use of local suppliers as you would expect.

Fake Sourcing

This joins the Howlers section.  Seen at Dublin airport.  Check out more at http://pinterest.com/turpinsmale/cafe-howlers/

Blenheim Local

Searcys are to be congratulated for their local sourcing at Blenheim Palace - no central purchasing diktat here.  Oxford Sauce, Cotswold Gold rapeseed oil,

Samuelsons of Witney sparkling Blackberry, Virgin Mojita, Super Strong Lemonade,

Manor Farm herbs,

backed up by story boards.

Our Changing Values

I have now finished 'Spend Shift' - great book about how we haven't been forced to sort out our values.  Until now.


So many of the examples in the book talk about cafes and food being the engine of regeneration in some tough places.
Two points that I found of especial interest:

• 73% of folk are "willing to pay a premium for companies that contribute to my local community"
• "The key to moving a customer is a good story"

The ten point summary (page 208) is somewhat American but applies just as much to us Limeys.
Read the book, assess your values and consider changing your business.

That Local Story

Local produce is big and you need specifics, not blah blah.  Great messages at the National Trust's Wimpole Estate in Cambridgeshire and Lancashire's Barton Grange Garden Centre

Made By Us MSA

Westmoreland Motorway Services Area in Cumbria is a one-off with a real commitment to local sourcing and quality.  They have just opened their 'Made To Go' outlets.  

Even the ceiling is fun.  Nice to know their catering supremo Alistair is a fan of this blog.

You are definitely in the right sector

Two recent bits of research say cafes are a great sector.

Allegra Strategies Eating Out in  the UK 2011 and Mintel, as reported in the Caterer, state that:

• out of home eating is increasing in the low to mid-value end of the lunch market despite the economy
• coffee shops have the highest visit frequency of any catering outlets
• fast casual 'refuel' snack lunches are what consumers want
• local sourcing has real appeal and is the most important ethical initiative you can undertake
• customers are slowly getting the message about, and buying, healthy options

It is hardly surprising that there are new magazines (Lunch Business "for the 'grab & go' business professional"), new shows (Lunch!) and web portals (Caffe Culture).  I am delighted to say that this blog is now getting over 100 page views a day plus an increasing number of followers on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.  We're rocking.