Squid & pear rated three star champions

Sustainable Restaurant Association launches mobile caterer rating

Squid & Pear has become the first mobile caterer to receive a sustainability rating from The Sustainable Restaurant Association.

The Putney-based caterer run by sisters Claire, a Michelin-trained chef, and Lisa Drabble, a foodie with events management experience, achieved the top rating in the SRA Sustainability Rating scheme, being recognised as Three Star Champions. Squid & Pear caters for a broad range of events, from street food markets, fairs and festivals, to advertising photo shoots and film productions.

Squid & Pear join almost 250 restaurants, hotels, pubs and in-house catering facilities who have been rated by the SRA since the scheme started last year. A further 250 are going through the process. The SRA has developed its rating process to make it appropriate for all mobile caterers.

Lisa said: "We were over the moon to find out we’d achieved the maximum rating. We’ve put a lot of work into carefully sourcing our suppliers and visiting them where possible to check the provenance of our ingredients and materials, so to have that recognised is both rewarding and encouraging.

"We always knew we wanted to serve seasonal British dishes and encourage people to eat foods which are in abundance. We’re big on the amazing produce we have in our country, especially the seafood and game."

The SRA was particularly impressed with Squid & Pear’s commitment to source local produce, sustainable fish as well as free range and rare breed meat. All catering disposables are made from recycled materials, is recyclable and compostable.

The SRA Sustainability Rating assesses 14 areas of a hospitality business, including the provenance of the food, energy efficiency, waste management as well as staff and community engagement.

Michelin starred restaurants including Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons, groups like Carluccio’s, pubs and fast food restaurants are among the restaurants that have put their sustainability credentials to the test.

Mark Linehan, managing director of the Sustainable Restaurant Association, said "We are thrilled that Squid & Pear have taken up the challenge to be the first mobile caterer to undertake the SRA Sustainability Rating and achieve our highest accolade – a Three Star rating. It proves our long held belief that any organisation serving food, be they mobile caterers, takeaways, hotels, pubs or fine dining restaurants can achieve the highest sustainable standards.

Squid & Pear have laid down the gauntlet for other mobile caterers."

Valere Tjolle
Valere is editor of the Sustainable Tourism Report Suite 2012 Special Offers HERE