Food you can Trust

Learning about food, where it comes from, how it is produced and what is good for you is an integral part of every school child’s development.

For Essential Trading, being able to supply schools and their pupils with affordable food that they can trust - food that is traceable, wholesome and packed with goodness - is integral to their business ethos.

Essential Trading Ltd

Essential Trading is a local worker co-operative established in 1971. Their philosophy has always been to strive towards creating a truly ethical company that has a positive impact along the entire food chain, and they are committed to supplying and promoting the most ethical wholefood products available.

The Essential brand contains no colours, flavours or modifiers. For example, their tinned pulses contain no added sugar or salt, fruits are packed in fruit juice and their organic muesli is made with wholesome, natural ingredients.

For school catering - whether meals or snacks – Essential Trading is able to supply products in bulk, wholesale and retail snack pack sizes. They are price competitive as they wholesale, manufacture and distribute organic and whole foods across the UK and have nearly 6,000 product lines that aim to make a real difference.

Ethically Sourced

Essential Trading’s food is ethically sourced and the company works with co-operatives and organic farmers across the globe, using the principles of fairtrade to support their communities, healthcare, families, schools and education.

Employing around 85 people, Essential Trading are one of the largest successful worker co-operatives in the UK and the company aims to be a model employer by applying their ethical beliefs inside Essential as well as in the local community and out in the wider marketplace.

The company specialises in Demeter bio-dynamic produce, which guarantees strict organic principles and is a truly sustainable and visionary step towards a more equitable world. It is also a guaranteed 100% vegetarian and vegan company and all their suppliers are asked to sign a non-GMO declaration.

Ethical Alternatives

Essential prides themselves in bringing ethical alternatives and fairtrade products rapidly to the marketplace and have gained full (organic, demeter, Fairtrade) accreditation to pack commodities in their purpose-built facility in Bristol. They quality control all of the ingredients that they mix and pack and their staff are experienced, knowledgeable and passionate about the foods they sell.

Serving Schools

Essential Trading can deliver direct to your school over much of the south of the UK using their own fleet of vehicles, but can reach anywhere using an independent haulier service.

The company can pack goods for you using your school’s own bespoke label, and they can mix and pack to individual requirements and product recipes. Their friendly staff are always happy to offer advice on the products that they stock.

If you have pupils with special dietary needs Essential can also provide advice and products suitable for the following diets; vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, wheat free, no added sugar and no added salt.

For further information about Essential’s business, ethos and trading partners visit www.essential-trading.coop