Hospitality businesses sceptical about local sourcing

Three quarters of hospitality businesses are sceptical about local sourcing, according to research conducted by purchasing consortium Beacon.

Three quarters of respondents believe that true local sourcing means within a 20-mile radius. In contrast, many suppliers refer to regional or even national products as 'local'.

Chris Durant, director of Beacon, explained: "This raises a challenge for suppliers: how to meet a practical demand for local products at competitive prices, and within a framework of what 'local' means.

"The reality is that businesses are not going to get everything they need from a 20-mile radius or at a price they want to pay."

The survey, of 2,000 hospitality businesses, also found that while almost all respondents (99%) have introduced one or more energy saving or recycling initiatives, fewer than a third are currently recycling.

A lack of outside storage facilities and the limit of local recycling services were seen as their biggest challenges.

In addition, 88% of respondents also disagreed to the imposition of a Government 'traffic light' coding system on menus.

Words: Maria Bracken

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