Where our food comes from

None of our delicious high-quality dishes would be possible without the help of our local suppliers.

As much as possible, the ingredients for our food and drinks all come from local suppliers, which means the produce we use is fresh, seasonal, social, and ethical.

Did you know that transporting food by air is 200 times more impactful than transporting by sea and 160 times more than by road? That's why if we buy food from abroad it will only come to you via sea, rail or road. We don't accept air travel for food deliveries, even if it means we have to source alternative ingredients.

Our connections with local suppliers not only means that we develop amazing connections and support local businesses, but our carbon footprint is barely visible! 

Meet our suppliers

Chapel Farm - Guildford, Surrey

For the freshest, most delicious eggs

We want the best of the best which is why we work with farms to provide you with organic and free range eggs that make a difference to our dishes. All of our eggs are locally sourced, lion stamped and RSPCA farm assured. 

West Horsley Dairy - Surrey

For delicious dairy products

West Horsley Dairy is the number one dairy products supplier in London. BRC and FORS Gold accredited, they are wholesale industry leaders with an extensive range of products from the UK and across Europe. And as a family-owned business that also works with over 25 small food producers throughout the South East of England, students can not only help to support them but also other independent businesses. 

Don't worry, we also have a wide range of alternative dairy products to suit all dietary requirements, including oat milk, soya milk and coconut milk free of charge. 

Barber's 1833 - Ditcheat

For award-winning cheeses

Who doesn't love a bit of cheese? A lot of our dishes include cheese so it's very important to use that we provide our students with the best quality cheeses...and that's exactly where Barber's 1833 comes in. It all began with the Barber family making cheese on their Somerset farm in 1833 and they haven't looked back. Through all of the hard work and expertise, they are now the oldest surviving chedder-makers in the world! As they continue to make award-winning cheddar, we continue to provide it on the plate. 

Dyson Farming - Lincolnshire

Farming for the future (yes — the same 'Dyson' who makes vacuum cleaners and hair dryers!)

Dyson Farming is as passionate about sustainability and quality as we are. Their technology and innovation enables the farmers to boost productivity, increase efficiency and use fewer chemicals whilst helping to conserve the environment. By taking the land and wildlife also into consideration with their produce, their food is of the highest quality so you can have the finest potatoes for lunch! 

Kepak St Merryn - Wales

For top-quality meat

The power behind our meat dishes, Kepak is one of Ireland's leading meat producers that put quality, sustainability and animal welfare first. With over 50 years of expertise in meat craft, they work with over 15,000 quality assured meat producers nationwide and are a founding and verified member of Origin Green, promoting sustainable food production and farming practices. 

From organic beef from Ireland to free range chicken from Suffolk, you can expect the highest possible standards from farm to fork. 

Extract Coffee Roasters - Bristol

For freshly-roasted coffee from sustainable sources

Warming your hands up with a hot cup of coffee before a lecture is one of the small joys in student life. We love working with Extract Coffee Roasters as they have the same passion for the environment as we do. Their mission as artisan roasters is simple, Make Coffee Better. Not only do they want to provide the best taste for you but their focus on sustainability is astounding.

Our Cast Iron coffee is Rainforest Alliance certified and from restoring vintage roasters to recycling coffee waste, everything matters. Extract Coffee Roasters believe in Direct Impact coffee, which means they build long-term relationships with farmers in Colombia, Peru, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and India! They even work with Grounds Up, a collective of grass-roots charity partners and projects they support through volunteering, mentorship and fundraising. So by buying and drinking our coffee you're supporting them too! 

We also work with Wild Wheat who provide the delicious bread for our dishes. With no additives and preservatives, our bread is naturally produced and is naturally good for you. It also pairs amazingly with our coffee. 

P.S. We also work with other amazing eco-conscious organisations like Waste Knot and Wildfarmed! 

We think local produce is best — the fewer miles our ingredients have to travel, the better it is for the environment and the fresher the food is that goes into our dishes. 

Check out our sustainability booklet, Gold Food for Life Catering Mark and Green Kitchen Standard awards to find out more. 

We proud to support our local suppliers and we hope next time you enjoy food or drink in one of the UAL catering outlets, your dish tastes that little bit better now you know where the ingredients come from. 

Contact:
Follow us @ualcatering for more updates.