Levy, the hospitality partner to many of the UK’s most iconic sports and entertainment venues, has announced that it will be replacing traditional beef burgers with a venison alternative, as part of a major sustainability initiative.
The shift, which is already being rolled out across several venues, could reduce emissions by up to 85%, saving an estimated 1,182 tonnes of CO2 annually. So far, 54 tonnes of beef have already been replaced with Levy’s ‘Game On’ Signature Wild Venison Burger, the first stage of the company’s ongoing drive to make large-scale catering more sustainable.
Venues including Brentford FC Stadium and the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, have already embraced the change, selling over 5,500 wild venison burgers at major events including the Women’s Rugby World Cup Final. This change is set to take place at more than 20 venues across the UK and Ireland.
Developed in collaboration with three Michelin-starred chef Brett Graham (The Ledbury), each element of the burger has been made as sustainably as possible. The burger features a brioche-style bun made from regenerative flour, and is served with ketchup and mayo created using surplus vegetables. Each burger is served in a seaweed-lined, fully compostable tray in a bid to reduce waste.
Jon Davies, CEO of Levy UK & Ireland, commented: ‘Championing wild venison is the next big move in our deep decarbonisation journey. Levy is committed to driving sustainability at scale, and wild venison is the most sustainable and healthy red meat by miles. Getting more of this underrated, yet delicious meat into the food chain is a necessary - and fantastic - move for people and planet.’
So why the move towards venison? With around two million wild deer in the UK, and no natural predators, using venison helps to control deer populations, whilst also protecting woodlands and promoting biodiversity. The meat requires no fertilisers or additives, and has a dramatically lower environmental footprint than beef, both in emissions and water use.
Levy is committed to being the most sustainable large-scale hospitality partner, and this is just one of the steps the group is taking to achieve this title. This rollout will extend to Levy-operated venues nationwide, including The Kia Oval, The O2, The NEC, and the National Theatre.
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