Cafe chain Boston Tea Party nominated for three awards
A MIDLANDS and South West cafe chain, with a branch in Worcester, has been nominated for a sustainability award thanks to its innovative project turning used coffee grounds into fresh oyster mushrooms which it then serves up to its customers.
The Boston Tea Party (BTP), with 15 cafes across the Midlands and South West of England, is in line for the Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA) Innovation award for 2015.
For the past few months BTP has been working with a social enterprise project called Green Shoots based at HMP Dartmoor. The project aims to help rehabilitate inmates through a programme of growing delicious oyster mushrooms using coffee grounds from BTP cafes in Bristol.
The mushrooms have made their debut at BTPs Gloucester Road cafe, in Bristol, and hopefully will be rolled out to our other cafes in the future.
A spokesman for the cafe chain said: Were incredibly proud that this association ticks many of those Boston boxes top quality ingredients, waste reduction and commitment to social responsibility. Its a delicious, virtuous circle!
BTPO has also been nominated in two other categories in this years SRA awards the Society award for its societal initiatives such as community engagement, treating people fairly, healthy eating and responsible marketing and the Large Group award.
The Large Group award recognises a business with a large number of outlets which has been most successful in the SRAs 14 key areas of sustainability Water saving, workplace resources, supply chain, waste management, energy efficiency, environmentally positive farming, local and seasonal, sustainable fish, ethical meat and dairy, fair trade, community engagement, treating people fairly, healthy eating and responsible marketing.
Deena Horne, general manager of the Worcester BTP in Angel Place, said: Were delighted to have been nominated for three SRA awards! We take our ethics very seriously and it plays a big part in what we do.
Our customers really value that our products are ethically sourced and they are often commented on as there arent many restaurants where you get free range sausages and bacon in Worcester. Its great to have been recognised for our commitment to this and other areas of sustainability.
The award winners will be announced on Monday February 23 at a ceremony being held in Oval Space, Bethnal Green, London.
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Cafe chain Boston Tea Party nominated for three awards