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B Corp caterer Houston & Hawkes has been named ESG Award winner at the Contract Catering Awards.
The award recognises the independent caterer’s sustained commitment to environmental performance, ethical sourcing and robust governance, delivered alongside strong business growth.
The accolade follows Houston & Hawkes’ successful B Corp recertification in late 2025, becoming the first UK contract caterer to complete the recertification process under B Lab’s strengthened standards. Since first certifying in 2022, the business has scaled to almost 400 colleagues across a portfolio of more than 40 clients, while continuing to embed measurable ESG improvements across its operations.
Key initiatives include the introduction of its Carbon Food Ladder to guide lower-impact menu choices, simplified recycling guidelines across sites and chef-led waste reduction programmes. More than 85 per cent of the produce the company uses is also sourced from suppliers located within 50 miles of London, supporting local economic impact and supply chain transparency.
Alongside environmental progress, Houston & Hawkes has strengthened its social impact through meaningful partnerships with the Zero Carbon Forum, the hospitality sector’s carbon measurement and net zero body, Magic Breakfast, the charity tackling child morning hunger, and Cook For Good, the social enterprise providing skills and employment pathways through food. The company has also been named one of The Caterer’s ‘Best Places to Work in Hospitality’ for three consecutive years, reflecting its long-term focus on culture and employee wellbeing.
Simon Houston, Co-founder and Director at Houston & Hawkes, said: “We are incredibly proud to receive this recognition. ESG has underpinned our business from the very beginning. It’s fundamental to how we support our teams and how we deliver for clients. Retaining our B Corp certification under tougher standards earlier this year was a significant milestone, and this award reinforces the consistent, behind-the-scenes work our teams put in every day to raise the bar.”
James Carr, Head of ESG and Safety at Houston & Hawkes, added: “We continue working hard to strengthen governance, improve data transparency and deliver practical initiatives that make a measurable difference across all the sites we operate. This award reflects a collective effort across the business to ensure responsible, quality-focused catering remains central to our offer.”
