Houston & Hawkes partners with Holm chef Nicholas Balfe

B Corp caterer Houston & Hawkes has partnered with chef and restaurateur Nicholas Balfe to lead and strengthen the independent contract caterer’s seasonal approach.

The partnership aims to champion British growers, producers and suppliers and the use of seasonal ingredients across Houston & Hawkes’ teams and clients.

Under Balfe’s guidance, the collaboration hopes to further strengthen the company’s reputation for food integrity and chef-led creativity.

Balfe, co-founder and chef director of Holm in Somerset, will also lead Best in Season, a monthly spotlight celebrating a hero British ingredient at its peak.

Balfe, who appeared on the BBC’s Great British Menu last year as the South West’s representative, said: “I’m excited to be working with a caterer that’s so passionate about seasonality and provenance. Best in Season is all about celebrating great British ingredients at their peak and giving chefs the confidence to make the most of them. Houston & Hawkes’ commitment to responsible sourcing aligns closely with my own values, and I can’t wait to work with the team.”

David Steel, director of food at Houston & Hawkes, added: “Welcoming Nicholas on board brings real depth to our chef-led approach. His understanding of British seasonality will be invaluable to our teams, giving them the skills and confidence to develop their own approach.”  

Houston & Hawkes was launched in 2019, and became the UK’s first B Corp caterer in 2022. It also received the Boutique Caterer of the Year award at the 2022 Foodservice Cateys and the CSER accolade at the Foodservice Cateys 2024.