Northern Irish catering business wins all Ireland recognition

Loaf Catering in Belfast has been recognised for its work with people with learning difficulties or autism and whose profits go to helping support those with difficulties join the workforce.

The company has been commended at the Irish Guild of Food Writers' Social Responsibility Awards.

Loaf Catering is a corporate catering business and social enterprise delivering fresh food to homes and businesses in the greater Belfast area. Using local suppliers whenever possible, Loaf Catering is also an accredited training site, providing training and work experience placements for catering trainees with learning difficulties or autism.

All Loaf's profits go to the NOW Group to help support people with barriers to learning and employment join the workforce. Loaf aims to help communities to be more connected with what they buy and eat and for every £1 invested in loaf, £8 is returned in social value.

The judges were impressed with the strong, independent feedback they received about Loaf and felt it represented a model social enterprise that others could (and should) follow.

The awards celebrate and recognise social responsibility in the food sector in Ireland and organisations were shortlisted for their community oriented work in areas as food education, conservation, sustainability or for their charity or other community programmes.

Aoife Carrigy, chairperson of the IFWG, says, "These awards are very special as they recognise the broader significance of food within our communities and society: as a source of nourishment and enjoyment, and as a connector between people, but also as a birthright of citizens in terms of the need for equal access to good food produced in a sustainable manner.

"We have a shared responsibility to protect the future of our food. These community food awards celebrate projects we believe have made positive impacts, with an emphasis on inclusivity and a commitment to people and passion before profit. The awards aim to highlight some of the excellent work being done on both large and small scales within our communities, and to say thank you to those who carry out this often thankless work."

Loaf is committed to using local produce where possible and uses ingredients from a community garden just yards from the café In Belfast. As part of the collaboration, Loaf donates coffee grounds and cardboard to the garden in return for deliveries of freshly grown fruit and vegetables such as money maker tomatoes, purple kale, Maris Piper potatoes, Braeburn apples and rhubarb. The staff and trainees at Loaf then use the produce to create all sorts of delicious soups, stews, salads and crumbles for customers.

The Café & Bakery opened last year on a site that had been derelict for 10 years and has been impressing customers with its home baking, local produce and welcoming staff.

Chief executive of NOW Group Maeve Monaghan adds:, "At Loaf we are passionate about good food and using local produce as much as possible..

"We are lucky enough to have a community garden just a stone's throw from our door who supply us with fresh food that can be picked and made into something delicious the same day by our chefs.

"As a social enterprise, social impact is at the heart of everything we do. The Cafe & Bakery provides jobs and training opportunities for local people and for NOW Group's catering trainees with learning difficulties. We are delighted that this work has been recognised by the Irish Food Writers Guild and we received a commendation in the Community Food Award category."

As well as the Café & Bakery Loaf also run an outside catering business that delivers fresh food to homes and businesses in the Greater Belfast area.

Pic caption: Aoife Carrighy, left, with Maeve Monaghan from Loaf Catering.