Big tick winner

The Venus Company Ltd - Loving the Beach

Impact on Society Award for a Small Company in association with the Institute of Directors

We use every opportunity to show how we can mitigate the damage we cause on the beaches and oceans.

Michael SmithManaging Director, The Venus Company

Formed in 1995, Venus Cafés can be found at Blackpool Sands, East Portlemouth and Bigbury on Sea in Devon and Tolcarne in Cornwall, with Venus Beach Shops at Blackpool Sands, East Portlemouth and Tolcarne.

Processes

Venus provides an alfresco Mediterranean style dining experience in a UK beach setting whilst integrating environmental and social care into every business decision; their business mission is to be the UK's greenest beach café and shop operator. 

In 2005, Venus Company won the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development and achieved global recognition as the First Choice Responsible Tourism Award winner for Best in a Marine Environment Category.

Continuous training and skills development is fundamental to the Venus customer experience and to overall business performance.  Training includes induction, health and safety, operational procedures, environmental management awareness, merchandising, organic provenance, catering skills development, management team training and performance planning.

Environmental care is integrated into every business decision.  Measures include resource management and efficiencies in energy, water, transport, distribution, packaging, equipment, waste, emissions and pollution. Venus has set up the Venus Beach Wildlife Fund to raise awareness and help protect the special nature of beach and marine wildlife habitats.

Venus’ purchasing policy is to buy local, organic, healthy product rather than the cheapest, using 56 local suppliers in support of Devon and Cornwall communities. Two cafes open daily 12 months a year helping to address tourism seasonality and offering full time employment.  Venus uses local, organic and Fair Trade products wherever available; annual menu changes offer healthier options to customers with vegan, vegetarians and gluten free choices.  Venus operates an ethical purchasing policy in its shops: e.g. organic clothing/ toys, local/organic confectionery, no shells, no low SPF suntan lotion.

The company is committed to providing long term support for the Tsunami orphans of Aceh, Sumatra through the purchase of Fair Trade coffee from an organic Aceh estate and raising funds for The Children of Sumatra Fund through coffee sales.   

Impact

  • In 2007, Venus purchased £500,000 of local goods and services with 82% from a total of 56 Devon and Cornwall companies
  • Solar panels on Blackpool Sands' new roof resulted in energy efficiency from 524 CO2 per sq metre to 397, despite a jump of 300% in the walk in refrigerated area and serving 4% more customers
  • Savings of over £3,000 in energy costs in 2002 over 2001 using savawatt plugs, slimline fluorescent lights, motion sensors, and dual control equipment
  • From 2006- 2011, Venus is donating 5p on its customers’ behalf for each cup of tea and every chocolate flake bought to raise £30,000 for the Venus Beach Wildlife Fund