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An investment bank growing ingredients for its restaurant
At this global investment bank, an initial installation of two Farmstands was expanded to eight within months. The produce now contributes to the workplace restaurant’s plant-focused menu every day.
The company had a strong focus on sustainability and wanted its workplace to reflect its ESG investment activities.
The challenge was to create an initiative that would make sustainability visible, provide useful ingredients for the on-site kitchen and give employees opportunities to engage with sustainable food production.
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The client wanted to:
Support workplace catering
Grow fresh, nutritious ingredients for its plant-focused menu.
Reduce food miles
Harvest selected produce only metres from the kitchen.
Make sustainability visible
Show employees and visitors how some of their food is grown.
Encourage participation
Create opportunities for employees to learn about growing and harvesting food.
Growing food beside the workplace restaurant
Square Mile Farms initially installed two hydroponic Farmstands in the office dining area. Their location gave the catering team direct access to freshly harvested produce while allowing employees and visitors to see ingredients growing where they would be prepared and eaten.
The installation was successful and, within a few months, the client expanded the Farm from two to eight Farmstands.
An office Farm can provide a regular supply of selected herbs, leafy greens and speciality crops for an on-site catering team.
At this workplace, produce from the eight Farmstands contributes to the catering service every day. The crops complement the restaurant’s plant-focused menu and give chefs access to fresh and distinctive ingredients grown inside the building.
How did growing food at work reduce food miles?
Produce grown inside the workplace has an exceptionally short journey to the kitchen. Instead of travelling through a conventional supply chain, ingredients can be harvested close to where they are prepared and served.
This does not replace the restaurant’s wider food supply. It provides selected ingredients with a journey measured in metres rather than miles.
How did hydroponic growing reduce water use?
Hydroponic Farms recirculate water through the growing system, allowing crops to be produced using less water than many conventional growing methods.
How did workplace catering make sustainability visible?
The Farmstands were positioned in the office canteen, where employees and visitors could see them growing. This turned an operational sustainability initiative into part of the dining experience. Rather than encountering sustainability only through company communications, employees could see food growing as part of an ordinary working day.
Growing selected ingredients beside a workplace restaurant allows employees to see where some of their food comes from and how it is produced. At this investment bank, eight Farmstands create a visible link between the company’s sustainability commitments and its everyday catering service.
How did employees engage with the Farm?
Harvest events gave employees opportunities to take part in the growing cycle and learn more about sustainable food production. The success of the programme also led to Square Mile Farms participating in the company’s annual sustainability fair, extending engagement beyond the dining area and across different levels of the business.
The results
Fresh produce for workplace dining
Crops grown on the Farmstands contribute to the on-site catering service every day, supporting the restaurant’s plant-focused menu.
A successful pilot that expanded
The original two-Farmstand installation grew to eight Farmstands within a few months.
A visible sustainability showcase
Positioning the Farmstands in the dining area allowed employees and visitors to see ingredients growing close to where they were served.
Measurable water savings
The hydroponic installation saved a reported 1,563 litres of water over one year.
Opportunities for employee participation
Harvest events and the annual sustainability fair helped employees engage with workplace food production.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an office Farm supply a workplace restaurant?
Yes. An office Farm can provide selected herbs and leafy greens for an on-site kitchen. At this investment bank, produce from eight Farmstands contributes to the catering service every day.
Can an office Farm be installed in a dining area?
Yes. Farmstands can be positioned within or close to workplace dining spaces, subject to the site’s technical and operational requirements. Here, the Farmstands were located in the canteen so employees could see ingredients growing near the kitchen.
How does an office Farm reduce food miles?
Ingredients grown at work can be harvested close to the kitchen in which they are prepared. This shortens the journey for those selected crops from miles to metres.
Does hydroponic farming use less water?
Hydroponic systems recirculate water rather than allowing it to drain away after each use. This installation recorded a saving of 1,563 litres in one year.
How can employees participate in an office Farm?
Employees can take part in harvests, growing workshops and food-related events. At this workplace, harvest events raised awareness of sustainable food production, and the initiative featured at the company’s annual sustainability fair.
What can be grown for a workplace kitchen?
Office Farms can grow a selection of herbs and leafy greens . The precise crop plan can be developed around the kitchen’s menu.
Could a Farm work in your workplace?
This type of installation could be relevant if you're:
A food service team looking for fresh, distinctive ingredients that can be grown close to the kitchen.
Facilities managers exploring professionally managed growing systems that can operate within dining areas.
A corporate occupier looking for ways to involve employees in food, growing and sustainability.
An asset manager seeking amenities that combine practical value with a strong sustainability story.
