Firstly, we need to say a huge thank you to the 60 incredible food traders that kept thousands of bellies full at Shambala 2023. The sustainability standards we set for Shambala are sky high – so trading with us is no mean feat! Our traders have to delve deep into procurement, packaging, energy and ethics, and every single one of them deserves a massive round of applause, for joining our vision for a sustainable and regenerative food future.
Our annual Trader Awards are a way for us to recognise the amazing advancements made by food traders, because we know that fixing the food systems rank in the top 3 actions we can take to battle climate change. PDD
So… without further ado here are the wonderful winners for Shambala 2023!
INSPIRATIONAL TRADER AWARD – THE JOLLY TROLLY
Polly at the Jolly Trolly runs an inspiringly regenerative food truck, allotment, and community. Our Inspirational Trader Award goes to the business that makes outstanding efforts to create and encourage positive social and environmental change – so Polly’s empire seemed like the fitting choice. At Shambala, her plant-based, gluten-free, wholefood dishes are cooked over a roaring fire, using fresh, organic and regenerative produce from sustainable sources that celebrate the importance of gut health for mind and body.
To combat health issues which modern medicine diagnosed as incurable, Polly began to grow her own food and fixed her gut health whilst learning to protect and regenerate the soils she was growing in. With the help of a converted horse box, she began to share these hand-grown foods from the Jolly Allotment. Now she runs a website with a helpful health journal, educational experiences and retreats, and shares knowledge and wisdom with the community across social media, meet-ups, events and festivals.
Polly was a close runner up last year, and we’ve since loved learning more about this incredible edible business and community – so much gratitude to Polly for paving the way with her regenerative mindset.
SUSTAINABLE TRADER AWARD: ENERGY EFFICIENCY – THE BIG ARANCINI
Energy efficiency has been a key focus for us reducing our impact as a festival! To reduce wastage on power consumption, we measure energy loads across the whole festival, including our food traders.
Our Sustainable Trader Award for Energy Efficiency is to celebrate the traders who reduce their overall power consumption during the festival weekend. The award goes to a returning trader who achieved the largest overall reduction in kWhs used on site in 2023 in comparison to their 2022 readings.
The Big Arancini were the winners this year! They improved their energy usage by a whopping 330 kWh since 2022! To put this rather obscure figure into perspective, this is about 5 weeks of energy use in an average 3-person UK home!
To achieve this they shared chillers with other traders, reviewed their cooking process and removed an electric convection oven and switched from hot coffee (using a bit energy-intensive machine) to cold coffee instead! Genius.
THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE TRADER AWARD – DOSA DELI
This award is voted for by you lovely people, in our post-festival ‘Big Debate’ survey. Once again, Dosa Deli take the ‘People’s Choice’ crown – and we can see why, with their great big golden dosas, and big-as-your-head bhajis. Well done, team!
ONE PLANET PLATE – CLIMATE IMPACT MAPPING MEALS
This year our food traders calculated the environmental impact of their meals with our new partner Klimato. We found that on average, their meals were the CO2 equivalent of 0.45 kg per meal, which is just below the One Planet Plate guidelines (which suggests that one meal should be 0.5 kg of CO2 equivalent, to keep us within planetary limits -for reference – a meat burrito is nearer 2.5kgs CO2e)
FANCY TRADING AT SHAMBALA 2024?
If you want to join our Shambalan culinary scene, bringing your best plant-based, mindful meals – why not apply to trade with us next year? Applications will open on the 28th November here.