News from COOK

B Corp UK Retreat

Posted on 23 June 2017

Tags: Good Business, Good Relationships

Last week the B Corp community got together in Battle, East Sussex. We’re very proud to be a founding member of this important movement in Britain that believes that business can be a force for good in society. When we joined, there were just five of us; now there are 140 in the UK alone!

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Two Decades of COOK

Posted on 14 June 2017

Tags: Good Business, Good Relationships

We had a big 20th birthday party earlier this month at a lovely venue on an organic farm in Kent. Everyone who has been with us for 10 years or more was invited, along with friends of COOK past and present who have helped make us who we are today.

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Sourcing

Posted on 8 June 2017

Tags: Good business, Good Relationships

Plastic bags, bottles, boxes, and crates ... we have hundreds of products in all shapes and sizes, but what are we doing in the supply chain to improve the transport packaging and deliveries and how do we aspire to be more sustainable with our supply chain partners?

We have always worked on better packaging for our own products that includes focusing on our suppliers and working hard to reduce the transport packaging they use. Some of the work we have done with suppliers over the years has been easier than others, such as removing cardboard from our protein deliveries and using an Returnable Transit Packaging (RTP). These are plastic containers that our suppliers use to deliver our products, which they then collect, clean and reuse for the next delivery.

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TOUR DE YORKSHIRE

Posted on 11 May 2017

Tags: Good Business, Good Relationships

COOK Harrogate had the Tour de Yorkshire literally on their doorstep last week. Cofodis, the winning men’s team, even propped their bikes against the shop front.

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The Team Speaks!

Posted on 4 April 2017

Tags: Good Business, Good Relationships

As part of our birthday celebrations, we asked some members of the teams for their thoughts on 20 years of COOK, with some moving, insightful … and surprising results!

“We were employee number three and four! We’ve seen many come and go and weathered many storms, helping to steady Dale’s sometimes rocky ship … which has now become a luxury cruise liner! Best wishes on your 20th Anniversary”

Carol & Angela, the Pastry Team

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COOK Turns Twenty

Posted on 28 March 2017

Tags: Good Business, Good Relationships

In March 1997, under the name Cakes and Casseroles, our first shop opened in Farnham. It’s been quite a journey and a lot has changed in those twenty years … but a lot has stayed the same: we still prepare all our meals by hand from quality ingredients, just like you would at home.

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FoodCycle

Posted on 27 February 2017

Tags: Good Business, Good Relationships

Charlotte, our Social Impact Manager, and Romane from Finance recently went to visit a FoodCycle hub near King’s Cross in London.They have 29 projects across the UK, and their volunteers cook surplus food in space kitchen spaces to feed those at risk of food poverty and social isolation. We give them the money we get from the 5p bag charge... which really add up and make a big difference.

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Camp Hope

Posted on 27 February 2017

Tags: Good Business, Good Relationships

A message from Arta, a chef in our Prep Team who used some of the paid leave we offer our office team to volunteer…

This January I went to Costa Rica for 3 weeks to work with children from vulnerable backgrounds, orphans and kids that suffer from abuse. We did a two-week Christian summer camp called Camp Hope for them completely free of cost where they could come and just be children again. We did loads of fun things together like rock climbing, ropes course, water day, games, dance, music and many other things. 

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How to Hygge

Posted on 17 October 2016

Tags: Good Business, Good Relationships

We’re embracing hygge: the key to Nordic well-being. Healthy yet hedonistic, it’s the secret to making the most of life’s simple pleasures.

A new book published this month, How to Hygge by Norwegian chef Signe Johansen, offers some great ways in to understanding the idea. Well worth a read, it includes this recipe, which we’ll definitely be trying soon.

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New Core Packaging

Posted on 14 September 2016

Tags: Good Business

Why have we changed our core packaging?

We actually refresh our packaging every couple of years, but this time we’ve made some pretty radical changes, giving our core range a completely new look … but don’t worry, the food inside is just the same.

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