When it comes to dessert in Leicester there’s always one name that immediately jumps to mind! Now, as well as making Leicestershire’s finest gelato, Gelato Village are cementing their ethical credentials by launching a range of biodegradable, compostable consumables.
Fresh from being named the Dessert Parlour of the Year at the Midlands Food, Drink and Hospitality Awards, Leicester’s Gelato Village are really riding high. The independent business, run by two Italians from the city of Turin, has always prided itself on its commitment to high quality, fresh ingredients and supporting local producers, so the move to complete their range of biodegradable, compostable consumables was high on the agenda.
“We have always been concerned about the environmental impact of our business” says Antonio De Vecchi, the former NHS nurse turned Maestro Gelatiere who trained at the Carpigiani Gelato University in Bologna. “By nature our gelato is a product that people often want to take away from the shop, so we use a lot of consumables. It was relatively easy for us to source high quality biodegradable spoons – we have been using them for years – but it has taken us longer to find a compostable cup that met our high standards.”
Of course, Gelato Village do have another options available for customers too – edible packaging! Avoid consumable waste altogether and opt for your gelato to be served in a cone.
Now the team has met that objective, and all of the gelato cups are both biodegradable and compostable. This is the latest initiative in their drive to treat the environment with respect. In a move to become single use plastic free which started at the gelateria’s inception in 2014, soft drinks in the fridge are all natural products in glass bottles, which the shop recycles. Take away cups are biodegradable, and the shops patented Gelollies are served without a wrapper. Local milk from Gelato Village’s suppliers, Vine Farm Dairy, is also available in glass bottles with a bottle return scheme to ensure that the bottle can be sterilised and reused by the farm.
“The dream is to one day install a water cooling system into the gelateria” says Antonio. “That way we can make our energy use much more efficient and much greener. It is the last big hurdle for Gelato Village in becoming as sustainable as we possibly can, but requires a significant investment.”
The multi-award winning Gelato Village is located in St Martin’s Square and is open from 11am – 11pm Monday – Saturday and from 11am – 6pm on Sunday. To find out more visit their website or follow them on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
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