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As County Supplies celebrates its 20th anniversary this November, the family-run New Covent Garden Market (NCGM) based foodservice supplier has another reason to celebrate — earning a coveted Silver Medal Sustainability Rating from EcoVadis, the world’s most trusted provider of business sustainability ratings
The achievement places County Supplies among the top 15% of companies globally and the top 5% within the wholesale food and beverage sector. For the County Supplies team, this milestone is not just a recognition of progress, but a testament to 20 years of commitment to quality, responsibility and innovation.
Solid foundations
Since the start in 2005, County Supplies has become a cornerstone of London’s catering industry. The company sources, hand-picks and distributes more than 2,500 lines of fresh produce daily, supplying over 550 customers — from caterers and restaurants to hotels and production companies.
With a 70-strong team and more than 160 years of combined management experience, County Supplies is recognised for balancing traditional values with a forward thinking approach. The company’s ethos — One Sustainable Step at a Time — encapsulates its mission to balance business growth with social and environmental responsibility.
“We’ve grown, evolved and learnt a lot over the last 20 years, but at the heart of it, we’re still the same – passionate about fresh produce, great service and the incredible County Supplies team who make it all happen,” explains company Founder Robert Hurren.
County Supplies’ consistent focus on excellence has not gone unnoticed. The company was a finalist in the Foodservice Supplier of the Year category at the recent 2025 FPC Fresh Awards, after winning the title in 2022 and being shortlisted again in 2023. These accolades highlight its reputation for service quality, reliability, and continuous improvement.
For Robert, the achievements reflect a simple principle: “Service excellence is central to our ethos. We work closely with our customers to provide specialist sourcing, food safety management, and bespoke delivery solutions — while helping them make informed choices about seasonality, origin and sustainability.”
This customer-focused approach is reinforced by the company’s ‘Best of British’ Food Education Programme, an initiative designed to educate buyers about seasonal produce and promote local sourcing through monthly Market Reports, grower & customer interviews, farm visits, client tastings and a new online seasonal produce guide to align demand with availability.
A milestone in sustainability
In September 2025, County Supplies achieved another significant milestone when it completed its first EcoVadis assessment, earning a Silver Medal for sustainability performance.
This rating places the business in the 92nd percentile globally, among more than 150,000 companies across 180 countries and 200 industry sectors. Notably, County Supplies scored within the top 5% for overall industry score, the top 3% for sustainable procurement, and the top 6% for both environmental management and ethics.
These results underscore the company’s holistic approach to sustainability – from compostable packaging and food waste reduction to smarter energy use, responsible sourcing, and community engagement. “To be rated this highly in our first ever assessment is a big step forward on our journey to make a positive impact – and it’s a testament to our amazing team and partners,” Robert says proudly. “Sustainability is not a trend for us – it’s embedded into our culture, operations, and long-term strategy.”
The One Sustainable Step at a Time ethos underpins every part of its operations. The company’s sustainability strategy is guided by measurable goals - including a commitment to reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 50.4% by 2032 — and supported by internationally recognised standards and certifications. The business holds BRCGS AA accreditation, operates under a rigorous HACCP Food Safety Management System, and proudly maintains Red Tractor and LEAF credentials. Its EcoVadis recognition now adds another respected benchmark to a growing list of sustainability achievements.
“We operate under rigorous sustainability policies that ensure high standards in traceability, quality and environmental responsibility,” says Robert. “This is reinforced by responsible sourcing and a continuous commitment to developing our people.”
Sustainable sourcing starts with responsible relationships and clear priorities," he adds. "We have always worked hard to ensure that the produce we supply is not only high quality but also sourced in a way that supports ethical and environmentally sound practices.
“We now ask all suppliers to sign our Supplier Code of Conduct and complete an assessment questionnaire. We also actively seek out growers and producers who meet recognised standards such as GlobalGAP, RSPCA Assured, Soil Association, Red Tractor, FSC, Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance and BRCGS.
“We put a strong focus on local and regional sourcing," Robert says. "Being based at New Covent Garden Market gives us the flexibility to work directly with trusted wholesalers who share our values. This allows us to balance quality, price and food miles, reducing the environmental impact of long-distance transportation.”
Seasonality plays a big role too. “Thanks to our longstanding relationships at NCGM and beyond, our network of growers, producers, wholesalers and agents, we can source the best of what’s in season, when it’s at its peak. Our British Farmer Policy Statement supports this approach and helps ensure that we’re making responsible choices based on what’s available closer to home," he says.
"Finally, we work closely with our customers to plan ahead and offer guidance on seasonal availability. Through our ‘Best of British’ Food Education Programme – including monthly Market Reports, online seasonal produce guide, grower & customer interviews, farm visits and client tastings – we align demand with what’s in season and readily available, to reduce over-ordering and help minimise waste at source."
Building a greener future
The County Supplies sustainability drive is also being supported by the ongoing redevelopment of NCGM. The redevelopment programme will transform the 37-acre Market site into a modern, environmentally efficient hub for London’s fresh produce industry.
County Supplies’ future 12,000-square-foot facility will incorporate a range of green building and operational innovations, including:
These initiatives align with County Supplies’ broader mission — to not only reduce its own environmental footprint but to lead by example within the UK’s wholesale food sector.
Committed to people and community
The company's sustainability philosophy extends far beyond environmental goals to encompass social responsibility and ethical practice. As a London Living Wage accredited employer, it is dedicated to fair pay, employee development and creating a safe, inclusive and empowering workplace. The business also engages actively with local communities, supporting education and food access initiatives. “Our success is built on people — our team, our growers, our customers and our community,” says Robert. “We’re proud to be part of London’s vibrant food scene and to play a role in making it more sustainable and equitable.”
Forward thinking
Entering its third decade, the business shows no signs of slowing down. With a new warehouse on the horizon, an expanding customer base, and a growing list of sustainability credentials, it is poised to lead the way in responsible foodservice supply.
“We’ve achieved a lot over the past 20 years, but we know the journey doesn’t end here,” says Robert. “Sustainability, innovation and collaboration will define the next chapter of County Supplies. Our goal is simple: to ensure that great food and a greener planet always go hand in hand.”
Investors in people, processes and the supply chain
NCGM’s newspaper, Market Quarterly asked Robert to look back over the first two decades of County Supplies and assess how the company has evolved.
“If I think back, County Supplies began with a deep-rooted connection to the world of fresh produce. My earliest memories are of Saturdays spent on my grandad and uncle’s fruit stall in Fulham, where I started helping out at just 10 years old. By the age of 12, I was cycling from Kingston to Fulham to set up the stall, waiting for the early-morning lorry loaded with fresh produce from New Covent Garden Market – the same market that would later play a central role in the County Supplies’ story.
At 20, I met Peter May – a close friend of my dad and a well-respected figure in the industry. Peter became both mentor and close friend to me. This friendship laid the foundations for County Supplies, which we co-founded in 2005. Although Peter sadly passed away in 2018, his influence continues to define the company’s values to this day.
When we started out, I could never have imagined the business would grow to the scale it is today. The past 10 years have brought huge changes – not just for us, but for the whole industry. What began as a small team of 18 has since grown into a company of nearly 70. Today, we serve as a trusted partner to London’s catering industry, top restaurants and prestigious kitchens with an ever-growing list of fresh produce.
Our original focus was quite straightforward: supply good quality produce reliably. That’s still at the core of what we do, but the way we go about it has evolved massively. Clients today expect much more – from traceability and environmental standards to year-round availability – and we’ve had to adapt quickly to meet that.
Climate change has had a major impact too – more unpredictable weather, shorter planning windows and greater pressure on growing conditions here and abroad. We’ve had to constantly evolve to keep up. So, while the fundamentals haven’t changed, the business has taken on a shape we couldn’t have predicted at the beginning.
Over the past 20 years, we have invested heavily in our processes, people and supply chain to meet the evolving needs and tastes of our customers. It’s now a 24/7 operation, working more closely with New Covent Garden Market wholesalers and directly with some of Britain’s leading growers.
Achieving an EcoVadis Silver Medal rating and becoming a London Living Wage employer this year were significant milestones. Being named a finalist for Foodservice Supplier of the Year at the 2025 FPC Fresh Awards – following our win in 2022 and shortlist in 2023 – was another proud moment.
What we take greatest pride in, however, is our continued growth and success. Our team has expanded by over 50% in the past three years – double pre-Covid levels. We continue to work with a range of innovative chefs and kitchens, from sourcing unique produce requests for brilliant Michelin-starred chefs and feeding the animals at London Zoo; to supplying major events such as the British Grand Prix and Ascot and making sure everyone is well fed on blockbuster film sets – where we’ve been known to feed a few famous faces along the way!
We’re proud to help feed London every day – supporting the chefs, caterers and kitchens that bring exceptional menus to life all year round.”
