Compass Group has responded to client confusion around the term "local sourcing" by establishing its own set of definitions of local and British produce.
The Truly British and Truly Local criteria outline what the contract caterer really means when it labels products as British and locally sourced. To meet the Compass Truly British standard, products must have guaranteed British provenance and be fully traceable back to the source.
Truly Local status will apply to products from small, local companies, which 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 company but does not contain local or British ingredients, it will be referred to as locally-sourced.
Gary Rhodes, Compass partner for several years through the Michelin-starred Rhodes 24 and Rhodes W1 in London, welcomed the move.
"Britain has a wonderful variety of produce, much of which has strong regional characteristics," he said.
"Through Compass's Truly Local criteria, more people will have the opportunity to experience truly local, quality products."
Mike Walden, purchasing director of Compass, said: "The launch of Truly British and Truly Local is part of our continued commitment to provenance and to creating a robust supply chain."
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By Janie Stamford
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