Small suppliers have big ambitions for local sustainability scheme

Small food suppliers are targeting a larger slice of the action from the Sustainable Restaurant Association following the launch of its new supplier approval scheme.

Member restaurants of the scheme boast combined business worth between £250m and £500m a year. The scheme was developed to allow independent suppliers a simple way of showing their sustainable credentials to potential buyers of member restaurants.

Suppliers must fill out a 15-point questionnaire covering local sourcing policies, whether any initiatives have been undertaken to reduce packaging and energy use and accreditations such as Red Tractor and Soil Association. Suppliers must provide evidence to support their claims, with only those scoring 75% or higher obtaining accreditation.

The SRA worked with Taywell Ice Cream, Fletching Glasshouses and Rough Old Wife Cider to develop the scheme.

“As a small primary producer it can be really hard communicating what we do and the quality we offer to restaurants,” said Taywell MD Alastair Jessel.  “The SRA Supplier Approval is a simple, reliable means of doing just that.”