In 2019 Sheffield was presented with the Sustainable Food Places bronze award, but how has the city improved since? unLTD’s Georgina Kerr looks at some of the most eco-friendly businesses and how they work.
Sheffield is a city full of thriving local independent restaurants, cafes, and food retailers all offering something different. But with so many food outlets across the city, how are independent businesses helping Sheffield stay sustainable in 2022?
Beanies Wholefoods
Winners of Best Sustainable Brand at the Exposed Awards, Beanies Wholefoods in Crookesmoor are leading the way with a more ethical and sustainable business model.
Working with a number of Sheffield charity partners, Beanies Wholefoods are tackling the issue of food waste in the city head-on, supplying produce to The Archer Project, Foodhall, The Food Works and Open Kitchen Social Club.
The Food Works
Every year The Food Works saves 500 tonnes of food from landfills through their kitchen, market, and community programmes.
Aiming to not only prevent food waste but care for the wider community, The Food Works Kitchen creates meals on a ‘pay what you can afford’ basis. Available either on a subscription or in person at one of their three sites, Just Meals start at a minimum contribution of £1 and are created from scratch by the Food Works chefs with zero-waste.
University of Sheffield – Institute of Sustainable Food
Sheffield is very fortunate to be home to the Institute of Sustainable Food. Dedicated to researching food practices and the circular economy, the institute offers a fresh perspective on how Sheffield is achieving its sustainability goals.
In a recent report, researchers from the Institute of Sustainable Food outlined how local food suppliers and retailers contributed to the resilience of the UK’s food systems during the pandemic. This is fantastic news for the future of local businesses and is a testament to the incredible work of our independent businesses over the last 18 months.
Sheffield is now on the path to the Silver Sustainable Food Places award, with businesses across the city collaborating to implement more sustainable food practices within the local economy.
Too Good to Go
One simple way for local restaurants, cafes and food stores to easily reduce their food wastage is through Too Good to Go.
Designed with both businesses and consumers in mind, the Too Good to Go app allows customers to purchase unsold food, saving businesses from losing out on stock costs, and preventing good food from ending up as waste. You might even end up with more regular customers through the process!
Foodhall Sheffield
Foodhall is a social action business which is directly stopping food waste while feeding the people of Sheffield.
Intercepting leftover produce from local businesses allows the Foodhall to provide quality meals at an affordable price for everyone. Another business operating on a ‘pay what you can’ basis, Foodhall offers a minimum of three meals a week at their public dining room on Brown Street.
The Foodhall has grown in recent years to offer more community-focused activities, as well as an affordable meal delivery service.
