Healthy and sustainable offer
We continue to develop a customer offer that leads the foodservice industry in
providing the healthiest and most sustainable options for our customers
Brakes offers a breadth of products to help with more sustainable menu development, insight to help our customers make
educated choices with all our product ranges, including healthy options, and development chefs to help develop healthy and
nutritious menus
Improved nutritionals
We continually improve the nutritional aspects of our products, including salt and calorie reductions to meet government targets where possible. As of 2021, 75% of Brakes products with a salt target met Public Health England’s 2024 voluntary targets.
Sustainable menu development
Food is the biggest part of ours and many of our customers’ carbon footprints. Our team of development chefs are developing more sustainable menu ideas, providing advice and tips on cutting waste and transforming to improve the impact of a plate.
Food standards
Our expert team of nutritionists provide customer solutions across sectors, whether it’s helping to meet school food standards, or increasing residents’ calorie intake in a care home.
Virtual chef
Virtual Chef online, from Nutritics, is available as an added service for customers to calculate calories, nutritional values, and allergens on their recipes and menus.
On-menu calories
In 2022, with the introduction of on-menu calorie labelling, we provided customers with expert support on how to meet ‘calories on menus’ legislation, find out more.
Natasha's law
We are proud to sponsor The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, the UK’s leading food allergy charity, who are transforming the lives of people in the UK with food allergies.
Sustainable packaging
We are continuously improving the sustainability of our packaging, pursuing circular materials and investing in reusable solutions
As awareness continues to grow over the impact and waste of non-recyclable plastics, over-packaging, and single-use packaging, we are committed to working with industry to help better understand and implement more sustainable packaging including:
Hard black plastics eliminated
Through our 2ZERO20 pledge, all hard black plastics have now been eliminated from all Brakes brand product.
Buffet boxes
We have replaced our buffet boxes with smaller unlidded recyclable buffet boxes removing five tonnes of virgin cardboard from the supply chain each week, and resulting in a C02e saving of 497kg each year.
Reusable crates
We’re rolling out reusable containers in our fresh depots to reduce supply chain waste. Each crate is resistant to wear and has a lifetime of 10 years.
Protecting people in the supply chain
We have a zero-tolerance approach to exploitation and believe in a transparent and
fair supply chain.
As part of this, we also expect our suppliers to uphold the same level of commitment and we work with them to help achieve this
Modern slavery policy
Our Modern Slavery Policy helps prevent the risk of slavery or human trafficking.
Improving conditions
Brakes are AB members of Sedex, which works globally to improve conditions in supply chains.
Ethical code of conduct
All Brakes brand suppliers need to abide to our ethical Code of Conduct and be Sedex members.
Sustainable sourcing
Brakes is committed to ensuring its products support good animal welfare,
encompassing the 5 freedoms as a minimum.
We stock a range of accredited products that are produced to higher animal welfare standards and that minimise environmental,
social, and ethical impacts including:
Sustainable fish & seafood
We have an industry leading position in the sourcing of ethical and sustainable fish and seafood including MSC.
Sustainable palm oil
All palm oil & palm oil fractions used in Brakes brand products are sourced from certified sustainable crop.
Red Tractor & Fairtrade
We stock products that minimise social and ethical impacts.
LEAF Marque produce
We are committed to achieving LEAF marque certification on all British-grown produce. LEAF is a science-based environmental assurance scheme that indicates produce has been grown sustainability.
Our commitment to sourcing cage free eggs
As the UK’s leading foodservice provider, Brakes believes in being a sustainable, responsible business and is fully committed to the responsible and ethical sourcing of all goods and products, and the fair treatment of animals.
Brakes own brand whole egg and egg products, such as liquid egg will be cage free by the end of 2025.
Updated November 2025
As we approach our deadline, we are pleased to report that we will meet our commitment and from 1 January 2026, we will only source cage free eggs for our Brakes own brand shell eggs and egg products such as liquid egg.
Extensive vegan range
Consumer demand for plant-based, vegan and vegetarian options continues to gain appeal across a broad consumer audience and our biggest selling burger is plant based!
We can help you elevate your plant-based offering with an extensive range of ingredients and meal solutions. Plus, recipes and Veganuary support.
Regional provenance
Working alongside our suppliers to offer a regionally relevant range.
In a landscape where there is an ever-growing focus on where food is grown, raised, caught, or produced, we are continually
reviewing and developing our range and approach.
British first sourcing policy
We always look for British first and more than 65% of our own brand products are produced, manufactured and packed in the UK
Local & in season
Wherever possible, we offer local products and those in season, so you receive them at their freshest.