Official partners of Love British Food, Angel Hill Food Co. has over 2,000 team members, providing 15 million meals annually to the education and healthcare sectors, as well as independent businesses.
Using fresh, seasonal ingredients across its menus, the organisation also supports local farmers and producers by promoting initiatives which align with and amplify the ethos of Love British Food, to strengthen the procurement of British produce within the public sector.
Rob Cass, operations manager at Angel Hill Food Co, said: “Partnering with Love British Food really shows you care about what you’re putting on the plate, and helps champion British farmers.”
A platform for engagement
Using a collaborative, multisector approach, the organisation appointed British Food Fortnight champions across each of its business divisions. By establishing a working group to brainstorm ideas and securing buy in from the wider team, they ensured the successful delivery of its campaign in 2024.
Through themed days featuring fruit and veg, beef, pork, chicken, and puddings, chefs were encouraged to use key British ingredients in their dishes. Cass explained: “It’s a really great way to get your chefs fired up and inspired by British ingredients.”
Running cookery workshops proved a hit with students, thanks to a street food focus, which will continue during British Food Fortnight this year. Alongside the curriculum workshops, Angel Hill Food Co. also reached a wider audience, with 45 parent evening cookery events, each attended by 400-500 people.
These provided a valuable platform to demonstrate the importance of local, seasonal produce, from its flavour to its environmental impact, with a significant reach.
Building on this success, these workshops will continue through British Food Fortnight 2025, focusing on how venison can be integrated into our recipes. Low in fat and an excellent source of B vitamins, venison also benefits from a low carbon footprint and Cass believe this sustainable protein deserves more attention.
Cass added: “Venison is a leaner, healthier product that we have an abundance of it in the UK. It makes sense as an alternative, sustainable protein especially given the increased pressure on public sector caterers to reduce the environmental impact of our meals.”
More than a two-week celebration
Beyond British Food Fortnight, the importance of sourcing British produce year-round is not forgotten with Angel Hill Food Co. maintaining momentum through participation in other annual campaigns and events.
“We do things throughout the year such as Great British Beef Week and National Pie Week, because it’s not just about a brief moment, it’s about supporting British food all the time,” added Cass.
One of the successful campaigns Angel Hill Food Co. has supported is ‘Eat them to defeat them’ – a programme which has proven effective in increasing children’s vegetable consumption and improving dietary health. Other positive initiatives include a junior chef club, and the academy cooking school, offering chefs the opportunity to hone their craft through internal training.
They also run a healthy eating incentive called ‘Goodness’, and a Lunchathon, which results in student recipe suggestions being adopted onto menus. These wide-reaching initiatives show the holistic approach being taken to prioritising and supporting British food and drink, ensuring that pupil and parent engagement remains at the forefront.
Seasonal menus and year-round cookery workshops provide a consistent reminder to students, chefs and parents of the benefits of British produce. This proactive stance also contributes to wider economic and environmental sustainability across the UK’s food supply chain.
“We need to be utilising what we’ve got in this country, and place a bigger emphasis on food security, it is really important; our farmers need our help and support,” commented Cass.
Strengthening food roots
Leading the way in prioritising British produce, Angel Hill Food Co. continues to source ingredients from British farms and suppliers throughout the year, supporting a sustainable value chain.
“Provenance matters, we want to know where our food comes from and always request detailed reports on sourcing and the distance it travels; it’s important to us that the ingredients we use are fresh, in season and as locally sourced as possible.
This year’s campaign pillars urge us to grow British, cook British and champion British, while the Love British Food pledge to make the switch to British is being echoed in the work Angel Hill Food Co. is doing – putting local produce at the heart of its menus and facilitating ongoing education on why this matters,” explained Cass.
This dedication goes hand in hand with the theme for British Food Fortnight 2025 – ‘strengthening the roots that bind us.’
Keeping momentum
Taking inspiration from Angel Hill Food Co. and others is simple, with wide ranging resources to support and champion British produce available via the Love British Food website.
Public sector caterers’ activities during British Food Fortnight should serve as a catalyst for a continued celebration of British food, sourcing from local growers and producers year-round. By following Angel Hill Food Co.’s example, this year’s campaign is set to be fun and engaging, while also supporting a more sustainable and food secure future for the nation.