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INSPIRATIONAL TRADER AWARDS 2017 – THE WINNERS!

Every year, our Sustainability Team work closely with our amazing array of traders, to ensure our incredibly high sustainability standards are met. On site at the festival, our team score each trader across a wide variety of criteria, including energy efficiency, ethical food procurement, waste reduction and travel miles (for both food and staff) as well as researching which traders really go that extra mile with their own environmental, charitable or social initiatives.

Ticking all our sustainability boxes is no mean feat, so a huge round of applause to all our Traders for their genuine commitment to treading lightly and consciously, as well as serving up mouthwatering festival fare

Our annual Inspirational Trader Awards are our chance to celebrate the Traders who scored highest in each area. Winners are rewarded with significantly reduced pitch-fees the following year (as well as us shouting about how brilliant they are, to all who’ll listen)

So, onto our 2017 winners!

In first place… Poco Loco!

Ah, Poco Loco. Fancy-pants restaurant quality food, in the middle of a field. But behind those heavenly flavours, this Bristolian institution has some seriously impressive green credentials. They source directly from producers and farmers – and ensure ALL post festival waste is reused or recycled – often pickling and fermenting any surplus edibles. We love their ‘root to fruit’ and slow food ethos – and their fresh produce is 100% seasonal, without exception. 90% of it is British, and the vast majority is sourced from within 50-100 miles of where it’s cooked. At Shambala, they offer a wooden board deposit scheme, rather than takeaway boxes, to reduce waste even further.

(Slightly off topic, but if you haven’t tried their breakfast shakshuka, you have not LIVED.)

Massive well done to all the team at Poco Loco, for being our Inspirational Trader 2017!

AND THE RUNNER UP… LA BONNE CREPE!

The undisputed kings and queens of crepe! This year, these heroes made the switch from eggs to an egg replacement – which not only reduced food waste but also made their legendary pancakes vegan! La Bonne Crepe also went the extra mile by supplying us with their own Environmental Policy, detailing their targets and achievements over the past two years.

We were also incredibly impressed to discover they balance all their travel miles, year round, and use only reusable cable ties. Flipping marvellous!

THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE… THE HAPPY MAKI

These vegan sushi-slingers deserve a special mention for being voted the number one food trader by Shambalans, in our 2017 audience survey. It’s been a whirlwind year for Team Maki, having also picked up the Festival Caterer of the Year at the Independent Festival Awards 2017 – very well deserved!

Thank you to all our amazing traders for your hard work keeping all of our crowd fuelled and happy – it might sound cheesier than a halloumi wrap, but you’re all winners in our eyes! 

Big love.

The Shambala Team x