The Source

Inside Britain’s sourcing story Meallmore Care Homes – winter edition How Meallmore is redefining winter dining across Scotland’s care home sector Food plays a crucial role in enhancing the quality of life for all care home residents. As Group Catering and Hospitality Manager across 27 homes in Scotland, Jody Marshall believes high-quality, nutritious meals are central to residents’ well-being and dignity. Love British Food, spoke to Jody about how the care provider approaches winter menu planning, local sourcing and nutritional resilience. Having spent much of his early career in luxury hotels, Jody admits the pressures are different. “Now I'm dealing with somebody's life. It's a completely different kettle of fish,” he says candidly. “This is a much more rewarding sector as far as I'm concerned. You get to make a real difference.” Today, he supports chefs to deliver nutritionally balanced, culturally relevant and dignified dining experiences – particularly through the winter months, when residents are most vulnerable. Why winter matters more in care For Meallmore, winter menus are not just about hearty comfort food. “Winter is when immune systems are under pressure. We look at protein levels, vitamin D, skin integrity, all of it. You can’t just think about calories. You have to think about outcomes,” says Jody. Rather than relying solely on supplements, the team fortifies through ingredients. “We use mushrooms deliberately for vitamin D. We bring in more kale for vitamin K. Protein is carefully balanced across the week. Everything is analysed before it goes live.” Menus are planned eight weeks in advance, with a detailed review six weeks prior to launch to assess availability, cost and nutritional balance. “We’re looking at red meat, white meat, fish, making sure we’ve got variety without overloading the cycle. It’s structured, but it’s not rigid.” Four-week menu cycles provide consistency for residents while allowing for seasonal refresh. ‘Dignity doesn’t disappear in winter’ Before a new menu is rolled out, homes host a structured tasting session known internally as ‘Come Dine With Me.’ “We put the dishes in front of residents and we ask them honestly – do you like it? Would you choose it again?” If a dish misses the mark, chefs are empowered to change it. “We trialled arancini balls. Some loved them. Some didn’t. So we adapted using the same ingredients. That’s the beauty of it – we’re not forcing anything through.” Flexibility extends right up to service. “Dignity and autonomy don’t disappear in winter,” Jody says. “If someone changes their mind five minutes before lunch, that’s absolutely fine.” Texture-modified meals are developed alongside standard dishes, ensuring residents living with dysphagia receive the same experience – just adapted safely. “It’s not about separate food. It’s about inclusive food.” It’s an approach that is mirrored at service, with linen napkins and residents choosing where they sit to eat. Procurement strategy – putting Scottish first With all Meallmore’s homes based in Scotland, sourcing locally is both a practical decision and a matter of principle. “Supporting Scottish producers is really important to us. Some of our residents are farmers and fishermen. They ask where their food comes from – and rightly so,” explains Jody Throughout the winter months, Scottish beef, lamb and pork remain staples on the menu. Potatoes are sourced from Aberdeenshire where possible, despite seasonal challenges around sizing. Eggs must carry the British Lion stamp, which Jody describes as a non-negotiable safeguard. Root vegetables such as kale, celeriac, turnips, Brussels sprouts and cabbage form the backbone of winter sides and soups. Venison has become one of the most notable success stories. Sourced from the Highlands, it now appears on menus twice weekly, sometimes three times, having previously featured just once a week. Jody notes that venison is currently commercially competitive with beef, while offering a lean, iron-rich protein well suited to winter nutrition. Procurement is managed through structured monthly, quarterly and six-monthly review cycles. Fresh meat, fish and produce are delivered up to three times per week, while frozen and ambient goods are monitored carefully to balance resilience with ESG commitments. Jody emphasises that their strong procurement strategy is central to all decision making: “It’s not just about the budget per resident per day. It’s about how smartly you procure. Service, reliability and quality matter just as much as price.” Winter inevitably brings volatility. Pressure on cod supply prompted a switch to coley for Fish Friday. Temporary disruption in Scottish chicken supply due to Avian Influenza meant sourcing an equivalent from Spain for a period, rather than compromising standards with lower-grade imports. “We won’t compromise on safety. We care for vulnerable adults, that comes first.” Winter resilience in practice Scottish winters test infrastructure as much as menus. Snowstorms have recently disrupted both staffing and deliveries. In one instance, a kitchen flooded due to groundwater and was temporarily unusable. “When you’re in Scotland, winter throws things at you. But strong supplier relationships mean problems can be fixed quickly. If your supply chain is short and your communication is strong, you’re resilient,” says Jody. Meallmore operates with emergency menu protocols and frozen IDDSI-compliant contingency meals to ensure safe provision continues under any circumstance. Sister homes support one another, with chefs seconded temporarily where required. During the flooding incident, soup and sandwiches were prepared in a neighbouring home and transported back to the residents affected, while an improvised Italian-themed evening helped maintain morale. “In adverse situations, there are no restrictions on creativity. Residents still deserve an experience.” Regional identity on a plate Scotland’s culinary landscape varies significantly by region, and Meallmore recognises this. “What mince and potatoes look like in Aberdeenshire isn’t the same as in Glasgow,” Jody says with a smile. Menus are centrally structured to ensure nutritional integrity, but homes retain the flexibility to adapt dishes to reflect local tastes. “We give homes the framework, but chefs have autonomy. They serve residents directly, they hear the feedback. That accountability helps keep standards high.” Hydration and seasonal comfort Winter dehydration presents a quieter but equally serious risk in care settings. Meallmore operates hydration stations offering up to fifteen drink choices daily, both hot and cold. Seasonal adaptations include warm apple drinks infused with cinnamon. Jody says they are designed to increase fluid intake: “You make it sensory. You make it comforting. And people drink.” More than a meal For Jody, the emotional role of food in care homes cannot be overstated. He recalls a gentleman who refused to leave his room after recently moving in. “He was having a real struggle settling in. So, one morning, the chef fried bacon outside his door. The smell drifted down the corridor. Five minutes later, he was out of his room, fully dressed, asking for breakfast.” He pauses. “That’s hospitality. That’s nutrition. That’s dignity. It’s not just about feeding people – it’s about connecting with them.” Winter hospitality extends beyond nutrition. Burns Night is marked in every home with a piper-led procession, an address to the haggis and locally sourced ingredients. The organisation even bottles its own labelled whisky for celebratory occasions, reinforcing cultural identity and inclusion. “You might be in a care home, but you’re still part of Scottish culture. That doesn’t stop.” Resident and staff engagement Meallmore encourages engagement between staff and residents, what Jody calls a ‘holistic approach’. Its ‘Meals Mean More’ competition invites staff to enter cookery competitions, with residents cheering them on. There is also a chef’s conference and an Academy of Kitchen Excellence. “It's a very, very clear career pathway. Probably our biggest success is that we've had lots of kitchen assistants who've come through the ranks, become second chefs and now head chefs. We really nurture talent here,” enthuses Jody. A sector often misunderstood Having spent much of his career in award-winning hotels, Jody once assumed care catering might be simpler. “In a hotel, you’re serving someone’s special occasion. Here, you might be serving someone’s last Christmas dinner. That’s a responsibility – and a privilege.” For public sector caterers in the care sector, Meallmore’s winter approach offers four clear lessons: strong procurement underpins quality; regional sourcing builds trust; nutritional rigour protects health; and resilience planning must be proactive. Above all, Jody insists, every decision is guided by one principle.  “Everything we do is for our residents.”

Inside Britain’s Sourcing Story winter edition – Local Food Links Feeding Dorset – The local sourcing story behind 5,000 school meals a day

As part of British Food Fortnight this year we would like you to welcome you to Honeybuns bakery for an exclusive peek behind the scenes. Taking place on Saturday 11 October, this exclusive event will include a tour of our artisan bakery, followed by a guided walk around the nature reserve here at Naish Farm, and finishing with oodles of cake tastings (of course!). We have two sessions on the day. The first runs from 2.00pm to 3.30pm, and the second from 3.30pm to 5.00pm. £15 per person payable on booking. All monies go to The Big Yellow Bus Garden Project, a local community garden. Spaces are limited so make sure you book your place. Contact details below.

Growing numbers of customers want to buy British food Support for British farmers and food producers is palpable here in the South West. The snaking queues at numerous farm shops such as Teals, Darts Farm and Felicity’s are testament to a growing market for thoughtfully and locally produced fresh food. The phenomenon that is Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat has also turbo charged interest in our amazing British food heritage. Deliciously stocked rural vending machines are also tapping into this sustained interested in artisan food. Our local one at Woodbridge Farm, home of the esteemed Blue Vinny cheese, sells beautiful chutneys, cheeses, yoghurt and fresh milk with not a single mass produced sausage roll in sight. You can pop in there 24/7 knowing that everything there is made either on the farm or in Dorset. According to Emily Davies, owner of Blue Vinney, "With business costs rising and no proportional improvement in the milk price for decades it has provided us with an invaluable opportunity of maintaining control over our own products as well as a brilliant shop window for education, trialling anything new or seasonal and just having fun." Quoting from the Public Sector Catering website, “more than 80% of people surveyed believe it’s important to buy British Food”. The stats from the Red Tractor Assurance Scheme are even more heartening, “91% trust UK food that is exclusively produced in the UK”. British Farming and Food have weathered the storm - it’s now time to celebrate Following on from the brutal challenges of the pandemic, lockdowns and the ensuing cost of living crisis, consumer confidence fell in British Food from 2021-2024. The Ukraine crisis with its disruption to the supply of key ingredients from wheat to sunflower oil led the United Nations to state, “The United Nations has warned that the combination of COVID-19 pandemic and Russia-Ukraine crisis has led to the biggest food crisis after the World War II”. Gloomy days indeed - heaven knows we are ready for a bit of a party. So the fact that trust in British Food is now at its highest since 2021 truly is something to celebrate. By popping up your British Food Fortnight bunting and going all red white and blue on your chosen day(s) your team and your customers can wave the flag for our fabulous food heritage. From the iconic Cornish pasty to the creamy Cranachan of the Highlands, our beloved isle is full to bursting with gastronomic treasure.

Here at Fresh Direct, the UK’s leading wholesale fresh produce supplier, we fully understand our responsibility to set a precedent for others to follow when it comes to sustainability. Our vision is very clear – we will continue to lead the industry by championing UK farmers, embracing regenerative practices, and driving meaningful change across the sector – and we have a number of initiatives under way to deliver this vision. Irrespective of sector, the public care more than ever about where their food comes from and the standards in place to demonstrate sustainable sourcing. And as part of our efforts to meet customer needs, we recently announced a commitment to ensure all contracted UK fresh produce growers are LEAF Marque certified by the end of 2025. This move strengthens our environmental standards, with a focus on supporting growers to implement more sustainable farming practices. These include energy efficiency and carbon reduction, responsible soil and water management, minimising waste, and enhancing local biodiversity. Our Managing Director Andy Pembroke, said: “As a business, we are not only committed to reducing our impact on the environment, but also to ensuring we make a positive contribution to a more sustainable future for farming. And we want to work with growers who share that vision. Making this pledge for all our contracted UK fresh produce to be LEAF Marque certified represents a real step forward for our sector and we are grateful for the support of our growers who have really stepped up to the challenge. It’s also fantastic news for our customers who can see our demonstrable commitment to a sustainable future.” As we work towards full LEAF certification by the end of 2025, the initiative aligns with broader efforts to accelerate the transition to more resilient, transparent, and environmentally conscious food systems. Clare Mike, Director of Technical & Business Development at LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming), added: “Fresh Direct’s pledge is a significant milestone in the journey towards more sustainable and resilient farming systems. This commitment not only supports the adoption of Integrated Farm Management practices but also demonstrates a proactive approach to climate change, biodiversity, and soil and water health. We’re proud to collaborate with forward-thinking partners like Fresh Direct, whose leadership sets a powerful example for the entire foodservice sector.” She added: “This exemplifies the kind of collaborative action needed across the agri-food sector to drive meaningful change. By aligning its supply chain with LEAF Marque standards, Fresh Direct is not only enhancing the sustainability of their operations but also setting a precedent for others to follow. It is through such leadership and commitment that we can build a more resilient food system for the future.” It's a cliché – but as an organisation it’s true that we are on a journey to deliver a better future. I have confidence my expert colleagues and the network of committed British growers we work with will take us to a destination we can all be proud of. Contributor Bio Lee O’Mahoney is Brand Marketing Manager at Fresh Direct . Along with the rest of the Marketing team his focus is on championing the brand, communicating the market leading initiatives the organisation delivers, and putting a voice behind dedicated partner growers and their glorious produce.

As proud partners of Love British Food, Bon Culina and Glebe Farm Foods recently came together for a visit that celebrated collaboration across the food supply chain. The Bon Culina team, led by Head of Service Development Andy Jones, was welcomed to Glebe Farm Foods’ state-of-the-art facilities in Cambridgeshire by Philip Rayner, Managing Director and Founder for a tour and first-hand insight into their unique gluten-free oat production. The visit highlighted a shared mission – to ensure that British produce is celebrated, understood, and chosen across public sector catering procurement, from hospitals and care homes to schools and universities. A meeting of shared values Both Bon Culina and Glebe Farm Foods are committed to high-quality British ingredients, shorter supply chains, and sustainability. For Bon Culina, this means sourcing as locally as possible, building strong relationships with producers, and maintaining rigorous standards for nutrition and taste across the 151 hospitals they supply. For Glebe Farm Foods, it means managing Britain’s only farm-to-table gluten-free oat supply chain – from sowing and harvesting through to processing and packaging – right here in the UK. Andy Jones, past chair of HCA and PSCA and who sits on government think tanks, praised the visit as “enlightening” and commended the cleanliness and efficiency of Glebe Farm Foods’ processing operation. He noted how seeing the journey from field to finished product reinforces the value of connecting caterers directly with producers. Strengthening the public sector’s British food offering The collaboration is more than just a meeting of minds – it’s a practical step towards increasing the availability and visibility of British-grown ingredients in public sector menus. By building understanding between suppliers and caterers, both organisations can help overcome barriers, identify new recipe opportunities, and promote provenance to consumers. As part of the day’s discussions, Andy encouraged Glebe Farm Foods to explore opportunities with public sector catering bodies such as the Hospital Caterers Association, LACA, TUCO, and the National Association of Care Catering. These forums provide a direct route to decision-makers and can help amplify the role of British food in the sector. A legacy of championing British Andy’s involvement in Love British Food spans over two decades, alongside his leadership in campaigns such as Nutrition and Hydration Week. He believes initiatives like the Glebe Farm Foods visit are vital in turning seasonal campaigns into long-term change. “Partnerships like this are how we make a real difference,” Andy said. “From farm to fork, everyone has a role to play in ensuring the food we serve is not only nutritious and delicious, but also supports our farmers, reduces food miles, and strengthens our national food security.” Of the visit, Philip said: “Meetings such as the one with Bon Culina help develop relationships and recipes with Glebe Farm Foods . It’s a great way to ensure we can both work to get more British food and drink into hospitals and schools.” A view to the future The visit has already sparked ideas for how Glebe Farm Foods’ products might be incorporated into Bon Culina’s recipes, helping to broaden their British offering while keeping quality and sustainability at the forefront. Both teams left the day energised by the potential for collaboration – proving that when producers and caterers work hand in hand, British food can truly take centre stage in the public sector. Visit BonCulina Foodservice and Home - Glebe Farm for more information. Love British Food partners can arrange a similar visit by emailing: office@glebefarmfoods.co.uk

Jayne Jones is incredible. She used to be Chair of ASSIST FM that represents 32 Scottish Local Authorities. She is currently Assistant Director for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. She has, therefore, experience of both school and hospital catering. She has participated in a number of Scottish Government steering groups including those developing Local Food Strategies, ending the need for food banks in Scotland and in developing proposals for the next Scottish Organic Food Action Plan.