Tyndrum’s famed roadside eaterie, The Real Food Cafe, has been given national recognition at this year’s National Fish & Chip Awards, where it won the Environment and Sustainable Business Award
Tyndrum is on the West Highland Way, just before the A82 splits to go to Oban or Fort William. So each year The Real Food Cafe serves thousands of visitors en route through Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park and into the Highlands.
The business has built a reputation for high-quality, responsibly sourced food, award-winning fish and chips, a strong selection of vegetarian and gluten-free options, and is committed to community and team development, receiving a listing in The Caterer’s Top 30 Best Places to Work in Hospitality in the UK for the past three years.
The National Fish & Chip Awards, organised by the National Federation of Fish Friers, are now in their 38th year, and are viewed as the ‘Oscars’ of the UK fish and chip industry, requiring ‘rigorous’ judging, including interview rounds, operational assessments, skills tests and anonymous taste testing.
The NFFF’s Environment and Sustainable Business category is said to recognise operators that demonstrate ‘responsible sourcing, sustainable business practices, employer integrity, and a long-term commitment to environmental best practice’.
Owner of The Real Food Café, Sarah Heward, said: “Sustainability underpins every decision we make, from how we source our ingredients to how we look after our team, our community and the area around us. To be recognised nationally for that is so incredibly meaningful for me.”
“Running a rural hospitality business comes with a unique set of challenges, particularly in the current climate, but we’ve always believed that thinking long term, supporting local suppliers and investing in our people is the only way to build something lasting that people love,” said Heward.
“This has been a journey of continual improvement and learning for us, with the aim of reducing our carbon footprint and protecting our beautiful natural environment.
“What makes me most proud is the collective effort behind it. Our team have embraced sustainability in their day-to-day work, our customers have got behind our waste-reducing initiatives, and our incredible volunteers give up their time to collect tonnes of litter from the area.
“I’ve also made significant investments in energy-efficient equipment and building improvements and share my experience and learnings in public talks and webinars with other businesses where possible.
“Recently, we’ve introduced a Heat Recovery system that should save over 6 tonnes of carbon per year and reduce our energy bills,” added Heward.
“All of these actions have made a real difference, from reducing waste and lowering energy consumption to improving efficiency and creating a cleaner, more beautiful local environment. It has boosted pride and motivation across our team, and we’re so delighted to hear that our work is inspiring others in the sector too.”
