Chef Gary Rhodes and Compass Group join forces

27th October 2009, 8:49am

Chef Gary Rhodes and the 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. 

He 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."

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 British, 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 Giffords, a specialist food distributor. Clients that will initially benefit include Bristol Zoo, Bristol Museum, Beaulieu, the Edinburgh International Conference Centre and the Wellcome Trust.

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