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Fenti Marketing are proud to support one of Sheffield’s most inspirational social enterprises, Blend Kitchen. Support from the local business community is key to helping a not-for-profit enterprise hit the ground running, so we’re absolutely delighted to be able to lend a helping hand! When it comes to creative design, we’ve got their back.
Blend Kitchen is an ambitious not-for-profit, social enterprise with big plans for their new restaurant. Blend Kitchen delivers hospitality training and paid work experience to vulnerable adults and marginalised groups in Sheffield.
The best way to understand the significance of what Blend Kitchen achieves, is through the words of their outstanding team:
“I feel alive when I’m working. I can’t believe how wonderful working at Blend Kitchen is, I love it!”
Steve, lifelong mental health patient.
“The flexibility and support Blend Kitchen have provided has given me opportunities I’d never find anywhere else.”
Rachel, single mum.
“Blend Kitchen has given me something positive and fulfilling to do with my time and a brilliant group of friends.”
Jeremy, former rough sleeper.
To embark on Blend Kitchen’s ambitious journey, the social enterprise recognised the need to make a bold statement in Sheffield – prompting an expansion from their existing premises on Pinstone Street, to include a brand-new restaurant one of the city’s most popular foodie havens, Ecclesall Road.
With the help of enormously generous Twinkl, Blend Kitchen will open its doors on 14th April to reveal a glamorous new restaurant occupying the spacious ground floor of Twinkl’s HQ in Ward’s Exchange.
Blend has received help from an array of willing Sheffield businesses, eager to see the social enterprise bloom amid uncertain times. Including Twinkl as a major supporter, Blend Kitchen have been given a helping hand with their restaurant fit-out, open kitchen and AV technology for their events space – and the results are seriously impressive!
The award-winning design team have included everything a thoroughly modern restaurant should have. Blend Kitchen is fully wheelchair accessible, includes hearing loops, is autism and Alzheimer’s friendly, features a private meeting room and events space, a video conferencing and screening suite, and a fully inclusive live music, spoken word and theatrical events and art exhibitions space – we said it was impressive.
The Blend Kitchen food ethos centres on locally sourced, seasonally influenced and globally inspired. Using seasonal, local produce not only cuts down on air miles and establishes an environmentally sound business ethos, but it also goes a long way to support the local economy. It also ensures Blend Kitchen customers get to sample the freshest produce available.
With a focus on local suppliers and seasonal produce, Blend Kitchen offers sumptuous and deliciously healthy dishes for Sheffield’s flourishing foodie culture to enjoy, inspired by the travels of founder and Chef, Chris Hanson.
Since its inception, the Blend Kitchen team have worked tirelessly behind the scenes, training staff, preparing for the restaurant launch and most importantly, experimenting with new culinary styes and flavours for Sheffield food lovers to tuck into.
The social enterprise has already seen a massive scale-up as part of the expansion to its new restaurant premises – estimated to triple its social impact – but that really is the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the ambitions of this team.
Blend Kitchen plans to open a further 5 restaurants by 2025, replicating the model established in Sheffield and supporting the need to provide accessible training and work for everyone in every community. Blend Kitchen has already broken the mould in Sheffield, and it fully intends to spread the seeds of transformative social enterprise across the UK.
So, what can we, the people of Sheffield do to help? Get a table booked, host your next client meeting at Blend Kitchen, and support them on social media to really help spread the word about this shining beacon of ambitious community spirit in the heart of Sheffield.
What’s important with all of the food we’ll be serving at Blend Kitchen is that it enables our trainees to develop skills resulting in us serving incredible food to our customers. Great restaurants aren’t about serving food you’d prepare at home, they’re about serving food and providing service that gives you an incredible experience.
Chris Hanson
founder of Blend Kitchen
