Responsible Sourcing
At Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm, we believe that great food starts with responsible choices. Across our Food Barn, kiosks and Farm Shop, we work hard to source ingredients and products that reflect our values of quality, sustainability, animal welfare and supporting local businesses wherever possible.
As a conservation charity, we understand the importance of making thoughtful decisions about where our food comes from. By working with trusted local suppliers and carefully selected national brands, we aim to reduce food miles, support regional agriculture and provide visitors with delicious food they can feel good about enjoying.
Supporting Local Farms and Producers
A large proportion of the pork, beef and lamb used across our catering operation comes from livestock reared on Moat House Farm, Wraxall, alongside additional produce sourced through local farms and our trusted local butcher. As production from the small scale local farms is naturally limited, this combination allows us to maintain local supply chains while continuing to support regional agriculture.
To help minimise waste, meat products are utilised across both our café and Farm Shop operations, ensuring as much of each product as possible is used responsibly.
Our eggs are supplied by Green Acre Eggs in the Chew Valley, while the honey used within our catering operation comes directly from hives located within our car park, allowing us to incorporate truly local produce into our menus.
The majority of our bread is supplied by Winnie’s Bakery, supporting another local business whose commitment to traditional baking and quality closely aligns with our own values.
Coffee and Refreshments
Coffee is an important part of the visitor experience at Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm, which is why we work with Clifton Coffee, an independent Bristol-based coffee roaster with a strong reputation for quality, traceability and responsible sourcing.
Clifton Coffee works directly with producers and sourcing partners around the world, focusing on long-term relationships, transparency and sustainable practices throughout its supply chain. By partnering with a local South West business, we are able to support the regional economy while serving high-quality coffee that reflects our commitment to responsible sourcing.
The milk used in our coffees is supplied by Blas y Tir, supporting Welsh dairy production and helping us create drinks that showcase the best of local and regional suppliers.
Ice Cream and Sweet Treats
Our ice cream is supplied by Bennetts Ice Cream, a long-established family-run British business with strong roots in farming and dairy production. Bennetts produce their award-winning farmhouse ice cream using fresh milk from their own dairy herd and carefully selected ingredients, combining traditional methods with a commitment to quality and sustainability.
Their focus on responsible production and supporting British agriculture aligns closely with our own values, helping us offer visitors a much-loved treat while supporting a trusted family business.
Responsible Ingredients and Trusted Suppliers
Alongside local sourcing, we carefully select suppliers who share our commitment to quality, consistency and responsible production.
Our dairy products include Welsh mature cheddar, Blas y Tir milk, and Anchor butter, supporting British and Welsh dairy producers.
We also work with specialist suppliers where product quality plays an important role in the finished product, including Callebaut chocolate, Kikkoman tamari, Tilda rice products and Doves Farm gluten-free flours.
Across our kitchens we use a range of trusted ingredients from suppliers including Wessex Ham, Gosh! Foods, Real Mayonnaise, Flora plant-based spreads, Tate & Lyle sugars and syrups, Maldon Sea Salt and Knorr stock bases. These products are selected for their quality, reliability and consistency, helping us maintain high standards across our menus.
Sustainable and Ethical Choices
We continue to look for products that support more sustainable food systems.
Our Whitby fish fingers are supplied by a company committed to responsible sourcing, traceability and long-term sustainability. Whitby actively supports fishery improvement projects, works alongside organisations promoting sustainable seafood and contributes to initiatives that benefit fishing communities.
Our vegan sausages are supplied by Devil’s Kitchen, whose products are manufactured in dedicated vegan facilities and developed with a focus on reducing environmental impact.
Many of our sauces, dressings and flavour combinations are prepared in-house by our catering team. Creating products ourselves allows us to maintain consistency, reduce unnecessary waste and develop flavours unique to Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm.
Reducing Waste and Packaging
Sustainability extends beyond our ingredients. We continually review our packaging choices and operational practices to help reduce waste wherever possible.
For takeaway food and drinks, we utilise suppliers such as Vegware and Kraft products, helping to reduce reliance on conventional single-use plastics and supporting more sustainable packaging solutions.
Where portion-controlled condiments are required, we use Stoke’s sauce sachets. These provide a high-quality product with strong provenance while helping reduce waste associated with larger containers that may otherwise be discarded before being fully used.
We also aim to maximise the use of ingredients across our catering and retail operations, helping to reduce food waste while making the most of locally sourced produce.
Always Improving
Responsible sourcing is an ongoing journey. We regularly review our suppliers and sourcing decisions to ensure we continue balancing quality, sustainability, value and visitor experience.
By choosing local suppliers where possible, supporting responsible producers and making considered purchasing decisions, we are helping create a food offering that reflects the values of Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm and our commitment to caring for people, animals and the environment.
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