Bradford coffee shop selected for sustainability support via Go-Greener Fund

A coffee shop on Rawson’s Place in the city centre has been chosen by the people of Bradford to receive expert advice to help further develop its environmental practices and improve sustainability.

Smorgasbord Coffee Bar is among 10 small business in the city to receive a £2,000 cash boost from the Bradford Go-Greener Fund, set up by First West Yorkshire with support from Green Street, an organisation helping small retailers to become more sustainable which is pioneering its first project in Bradford, and the Combined Authority.

These 10 businesses took part in a people’s choice online poll last week to decide an overall winner. After coming top in the vote Smorgasbord will benefit from a full review of green measures which will be paid for by the Combined Authority.

Owner Arif Mehmood commented: “I am delighted to hear that Smorgasbord has won the Go-Greener Fund vote. This will enable us to put in place practices to significantly reduce our carbon footprint. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who voted for us.”

Paul Matthews, managing director of First West Yorkshire, said: “Congratulations to Arif and his team and well done to all 10 finalists who made it to the vote. It has been a tremendous two months since we launched the Bradford Go-Greener Fund.

“The response from businesses and the public has been fantastic and has achieved what we hoped; raising awareness of environmental choices when shopping and enjoying leisure time in the city and its communities.”

He was joined in deciding the 10 successful businesses to receive the £2,000 funding by Green Street Founder Victoria Robertshaw and Vincent McCabe, programme lead (clean growth & innovation) at the Combined Authority,

Victoria Robertshaw added: “Smorgasbord and the other Bradford winners together demonstrate the proactive and innovative work and ideas being developed by Bradford businesses to be more sustainable and provide planet-friendly shopping and dining experiences for customers.

“Thank you as well to First Bus for setting up the Go-Greener Fund for Bradford and helping to highlight the great businesses in the city and build on the work which Green Street is doing to help businesses become greener more quickly.”