Greene King is strengthening its resolve to help customers with food allergies as it becomes the first UK pub company and brewer to form a strategic partnership with The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation.
The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation is focusing on medical research, law and policies, and educating and raising allergy awareness to bring about positive change for people with food allergies.
The new partnership sees Greene King, the leading pub company and brewer, pledge a six-figure sum over three-years to The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation for vital medical research looking at causes and developing ways to prevent and treat allergic disease.
Successful medical research could be a welcome relief for many pub customers, friends and families who have to be allergy-aware every time they eat for fear of an adverse allergic reaction.
Up to three million people in the UK have food allergies and 48% of consumers say they, or a person in their household, avoids at least one food or ingredient as a result. Sadly, severe food allergic reaction and anaphylactic shock can be life-threatening.
Latest NHS England data from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) shows there were over 25,000 admissions for allergies and anaphylaxis in 2022-2023 – that’s more than doubled over the past 20 years.
Greene King Chief Executive, Nick Mackenzie, said: “This is a really important partnership to be supporting the Foundation in what will be life-changing research for millions. It will make a difference for people with, or affected by, food allergies. We serve meals to customers every day in our pubs and have strong procedures and menu information about food allergens in place to help protect them but this research is crucial to help us reach a time when everyone can eat at home or in a pub without the fear of an allergic reaction.
“I think the incredible work Tanya, Nadim and the charity have done to raise awareness and champion this cause is awe-inspiring and I’m proud we are able to partner with them.”
The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation was set up by Tanya and Nadim Ednan-Laperouse following the death of their daughter Natasha in 2016. Her tragic death after eating a high street- bought sandwich has fueled their determination to change the world for everyone with food allergies. They successfully campaigned for Natasha’s Law, which came into effect in 2021, requiring all food outlets to provide full ingredients lists with clear allergen labelling on food pre-packed for direct sale.
Tanya Ednan-Laperouse says: “We are delighted that Greene King is joining us in the fight to make allergy history by funding game-changing medical research. We want to transform the lives of people and families living with food allergies. Everyone has the right to feel and be safe in their environment, be that home, school, work, or out with friends and family.”
This month’s strategic partnership is a further step to help pub customers with food allergies when they eat out.
Existing support for customers with food allergies:
- There is extensive allergen information on Greene King websites. Since 2020, menus can be filtered so customers can view starters, main courses and desserts avoiding 14 of the most common allergens, including fish, gluten, eggs, peanuts and soya. As a result, guests can see the dishes which may be suitable for them. This information is also accessible via the Order & Pay App. There are also in-pub electronic tablets for guests to use.
- Greene King’s food development chefs and nutrition team work together developing menus for different dietary choices, for example No-gluten Containing Ingredient Menus which show dishes which do not intentionally contain gluten are available in all our pubs.
- There is comprehensive and on-going training for every pub team member regarding food allergens and intolerances to ensure all team members have knowledge and understanding of the correct processes to support customers with food allergies or intolerances.
- All customers are advised to make pub teams aware of any allergies or intolerances they may have before ordering.
Greene King is proud to add its support to The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation’s mission to #MakeAllergyHistory For further information, please visit [ https://www.narf.org.uk/ ].
ENDS
About Greene King:
Greene King is the country’s leading pub company and brewer with c.2,600 pubs, restaurants and hotels across England, Wales and Scotland.
At Greene King we are passionate about delivering our purpose to ‘pour happiness into lives’. That’s for our customers, our team, our pub partners, our suppliers and the communities in which we live, operate and serve. Founded in 1799 with offices in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk and Burton on Trent in Staffordshire we employ around 39,000 people across the group with four divisions: Greene King pubs, Destination Brands, Partnership and Ventures, and Brewing & Brands.
- Greene King pubs are located where people and communities come together; pubs enjoyed in cities, towns and villages throughout the country
- Destination Brands is a mixture of food and drink-led brands including Hungry Horse, Farmhouse Inns, Chef & Brewer, Wacky Warehouse, and Pub & Carvery, Pub & Dining and Pub & Grill
- Partnerships & Ventures includes Pub Partners, which runs our tenanted and leased pubs business and Hive Franchise pubs, and our Ventures Brands which is made up of Metropolitan Pub Company, Hickory’s, Hotels Group and Crafted Pubs
Brewing & Brands covers the brewing sides of the business. Quality ales are brewed at the Westgate brewery in Bury St Edmunds and the Belhaven Brewery in Dunbar. Our industry-leading portfolio includes Greene King IPA, Old Speckled Hen, Abbot Ale, Ice Breaker and Belhaven Best and our premium beers, Level Head and Flint Eye, brewed for the modern-day drinker.
Contact: Greene King Press Office, PressOffice@greeneking.co.uk
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