Ripple Effects of Conscious Ingredient Sourcing

Behind every ingredient we use for our meals at The Good Eating Company (GEC) lies a story.  Of the people who grew it, the communities it supports, and the land and oceans it comes from. At GEC we’re committed to sourcing responsibly. We work hand in hand with our suppliers to make sure the food we serve supports the health and wellbeing of our guests, provides fair opportunities for farmers and producers, and helps protect the natural world we all depend on. Every decision about what we buy creates a ripple effect, and we want those ripples to be positive ones that shape the meals we create, strengthen our communities, and safeguard the planet.

Health and wellbeing with every meal

At GEC we want the food we serve to do more than taste good, we want it to be good for our guests. To make sure of that, we set strict standards for every ingredient we buy. Our suppliers follow clear guidelines to ensure food safety and nutrition, and we carry out regular audits and testing to hold ourselves accountable. It’s a way of giving peace of mind to everyone who eats with us, knowing that their meals are  fresh, safe, and thoughtfully sourced.

Supporting communities and fairness

Food can change lives, not just through nutrition but through opportunity. By working with small and medium enterprises (SMEs), we help support local jobs and keep communities thriving. Buying closer to home also means shorter supply chains, fewer food miles, and less pollution. Right now, we spend more than €1.3 billion with SMEs every year, and we’re keen to keep growing that number.

Through our Supply Chain Inclusion Programme, we create opportunities for businesses owned by women and minority groups. In the UK, that means mentoring and practical support to help smaller suppliers scale up sustainably. 

Protecting nature for the future

The way food is produced has a huge impact on the planet, so we choose our suppliers carefully. We’re committed to sourcing 100% sustainable seafood and eliminating deforestation from our supply chains, focusing on high-impact ingredients like palm oil, soy, and beef.

We’re also cutting waste and reducing emissions by promoting sustainable fish and seafood, moving to reusable food containers, and working only with suppliers who share our environmental commitments. Since supply chains account for about half of the food industry’s carbon footprint, especially from meat, dairy, palm oil, and paper, sourcing responsibly is one of the most powerful tools we have to meet our goal of reducing carbon emissions.

A science-led journey

At The Good Eating Company we understand that real progress needs to be measurable. That’s why we’re part of the Science Based Targets Network, which helps companies take practical, science-led steps towards a net-zero, nature-positive future.

Our first steps are already underway.  We identify the biggest impacts our sourcing has on nature, mapping where they happen in the supply chain, and prioritising where we can make the most difference. This science-based approach makes sure our efforts to protect land, water, biodiversity, and oceans are focused where they count most.

The ripple effect

Every sourcing decision has consequences and one example we are especially proud of is our partnership with Full Circle Farms.

The farm uses sustainable methods to grow seasonal vegetables without artificial fertilisers or chemicals, and our chefs collaborate directly with the farm team to plan menus around the freshest produce.

Vegetables are often harvested and in our kitchens within 12 hours, which means maximum flavour, full traceability, and minimal waste. Food waste from our venues even makes its way back to the farm, where it is turned into compost to help regenerate the soil.

The benefits extend to the community too. Local people are welcomed to the farm to learn how to care for animals, grow crops, and protect the environment. Dedicated plots, funded by farm partners, are used to grow produce for local food banks.

Already, more than eight tons of organic vegetables from Full Circle Farms have been served at events and iconic venues such as Royal Ascot, Fulham FC, and Brighton & Hove Albion FC.

At The Good Eating Company,  responsible sourcing is about making sure the food our guests enjoy is genuinely good for people and for the planet.

If you’d like to see what this looks like in practice, watch our video below with Square Mile Farms, which showcases how we’re bringing sustainable farming right into the heart of the city. This video was produced by BBC StoryWorks as part of the #PurchasingPowers series, presented by Consumers International.