A Local Approach

It’s a key question asked by the team at The Venus Company when they choose only the best in the South West to supply their Devon beach cafés – Chrissy Harris finds out more.

A beef burger made from prime grass-fed beef, served in a toasted Cornish artisan-floured bap. That delicious-sounding lunch is what happens when you combine some of the finest local produce available on our doorstep.

It’s a formula the founders of The Venus Company have perfected from the very start. Ever since their first café opened at Blackpool Sands in 1995, the team have been passionate about sourcing good, local ingredients from suppliers that share the same values. An ethos adopted and significantly enhanced when Venus relaunched in 1995.

Venus has long been focused on sustainability and this family-run firm has established a reputation for its environmentally aware ethos. Finding the right people doing the right things remains a crucial part of the menus across all three Venus cafés in Broadsands in Paignton, Teignmouth and at Bigbury-on-Sea.

Many of The Venus Company’s suppliers – some of which have been there from the beginning – are committed to reducing plastic use and their carbon footprints, as well as supporting regional businesses. “Most of our suppliers are doing the same thing as us,” says Michael Smith, one of The Venus Company founders. “Some we have worked with from day dot, others have joined us more recently. We choose wisely. The quality has to be there and the sustainability has to be there.” It makes a Venus café breakfast, lunch or coffee stop taste even better.

Here’s a sample of what’s on the menus: burgers are made using The Venus Company’s secret recipe by family-run Bailey and Sons in Paignton. Sausage baps and free-range Devon chicken tacos are thanks to quality meats from G.T. Orsman (the Orsman family founded the butcher’s shop in Shaldon more than 100 years ago).

Pasties are made in Cornwall by Proper Cornish using a Venus recipe that celebrates both sides of the border. The well-established Baker Tom, a champion of environmental sustainability, provides the floured baps and sourdough bread from its Cornwall-based bakery.

Fish – from sardines to whole mackerel – is locally landed and comes in from S&J Fisheries in Ivybridge.

Dairy, eggs and preserves are all supplied by West Country firms, including Trewithen Dairy in Cornwall. Its Cornish grass-fed milk and cream are used in Venus coffees, milkshakes and cream teas.

The Venus Company’s cheesy fries and ploughman’s wrap include cheddar from Hawkridge in Crediton, while Upton Bridge Farm in Somerset provides the butter, and Newlands Farm in Liskeard supplies the eggs. Chutney comes from Hogs Bottom in Lifton.

Ice cream – a very important menu item across all the Venus cafés – comes from Salcombe Dairy and B-Corp-certified Jude’s in Hampshire.

And finally, the jam on top (we’re in Devon, after all) is from Roskilly’s in Cornwall (hope they don’t mind).

To find out more, see lovingthebeach.co.uk.