Hospitality group Heartwood Collection has been awarded a three-star rating under the Food Made Good Standard from The Sustainable Restaurant Association (The SRA), the highest possible score awarded to businesses leading the way to a more sustainable hospitality industry.
With 20 premium pubs and 14 Brasserie Blanc restaurants currently operating across the UK, and a further five pubs under offer, Heartwood was specifically credited for its responsible and sustainable food sourcing and the impact this has on the livelihoods of communities and higher standards of agricultural practices.
Sustainability and locality underpin everything Heartwood does. The Group takes a seasonal approach to menu development, working with the seasons, not against them, to ensure all ingredients are used when they are at their best. Guests are served the freshest local and seasonal dishes which have been sourced with the greatest of care from farm to fork.
This includes sourcing all meat from award-winning butchers Aubrey Allen, who supply the royal household and ethically rear flocks at the highest welfare standards. All fish served is currently rated 1-3 by the Marine Stewardship Council’s Good Fish Guide. Fruit and vegetables are Red Tractor accredited. Heartwood uses Fairtrade coffee and sugar as well as Rainforest Alliance tea and chocolate, and works with a number of Certified B Corp Producers including Jude’s ice cream and lly coffee. The Group’s sourcing approach is widely communicated to guests on menus, websites and across other communications.
Heartwood’s commitment to sustainability doesn’t stop with its suppliers. The Group prioritises the wellbeing of its people through a number of initiatives, including a structured career development approach and wellbeing programmes, and supports the community through its charity of the year partnership alongside numerous local charitable initiatives.
The Group has the highest standards when it comes to recycling and food waste, from its 34 pubs and brasseries to its head office.
The Group’s three-star rating will be displayed across all its existing and new sites, showcasing the achievement and demonstrating Heartwood’s ongoing commitment to dishing up a sustainable future.
Juliane Caillouette Noble, Managing Director of The Sustainable Restaurant Association, said:
“Completing the Food Made Good Standard is an achievement in itself, but a three-star rating is indicative of a truly exceptional commitment to measurable and transparent sustainability practices throughout every aspect of a hospitality business. We would like to offer our wholehearted congratulations to Heartwood Collection for outstanding work across the board – most notably in their efforts to support producers and celebrate seasonality and provenance. We were especially impressed by how they treat their staff, providing access to a variety of mental health resources, support and training, as well as operating an internal employee advice helpline. Well done to the entire team at Heartwood Collection – we know that a result like this demands dedication from everyone across the organisation.”
Richard Ferrier, Managing Director, Heartwood Collection, said: “We are honoured and proud to have been awarded with a top three-star rating from the Sustainable Restaurant Association. Sustainability and locality underpin everything we do – from sourcing and menu development to the way we run each one of our pubs and restaurants – and we’re delighted to receive recognition for our ongoing efforts. This result couldn’t have been achieved without the hard work and dedication of our talented people who work hard to implement our sustainable vision at every single one of our pubs and brasseries across the UK.”
