Change is brewing

GFaL Club, the Great Food at Leeds app and loyalty scheme, is getting a refresh. The New Year will bring with it a brand new app and loyalty scheme, GFaL Rewards.

We have been listening to you, and taking feedback on what we can do differently to set our new app and loyalty scheme up for success. What we’ve heard is that you’d like us to focus on creating an app that is easy to use and consistent.

We also learned that you would like to see more loyalty benefits, to give you an increased feeling of customer satisfaction and make eating and drinking with us on campus taste better than ever.

You said, we did. The new GFaL Rewards app and loyalty scheme is coming.

So, what’s up for grabs?

Here’s just a flavour of what you can expect from GFaL Rewards:

  • Sign up brew. We like to make a good first impression. Sign up when you download the app and get rewarded with a free regular hot drink.
  • Collect stamps. Buy 8 brewed or blended drinks and get your 9th drink on the house.
  • Earn points. Earn 3 points for every £1 you spend with us to redeem on rewards you’ll love.
  • Birthday treat. Celebrate your birthday with coffee and cake on us.
  • App exclusive rewards. Served up monthly.

You will be able to use the app in the Refectory and all of the other Great Food at Leeds operated outlets on campus, this excludes Caffe Nero locations and food outlets in the students’ union.

Dates for your diary

The final day to use the GFaL Club app will be Tuesday 19 December 2023. Make sure you use any rewards before this date. If you miss the cut-off date, don’t worry, you’ll receive an instant hot drink voucher when you sign up to GFaL Rewards. The new app will be available to download in early January on Apple and Android – watch this space!

For Meal Plan students, you will need to download the GFaL Rewards app to access your daily allowance from Saturday 13 January 2024, when Meal Plan begins for the new semester. We will contact you in January when the app is available to download, with instructions on how to sign up and access your allowance.

If you have purchased a Food Bundle or uploaded funds to your GFaL Club app, your balance will be frozen from Tuesday 19 December 2023 – Friday 12 January 2024. Your credit will be transferred to the GFaL Rewards app for use from Saturday 13 January 2024. We will contact you in January when the app is available to download, with instructions on how to sign up and access your credit.

For more information on the upcoming changes, follow us on social media @GreatFoodLeeds or email gfal@leeds.ac.uk.

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Fairtrade Fortnight 2023

As part of our commitment to Fairtrade, we have been focusing on Fairtrade products, ingredients and suppliers as part of Fairtrade Fortnight 2023, which took place from Monday 27 February – Sunday 12 March 2023.

At Great Food at Leeds we are passionate about Fairtrade and have been responsibly sourcing and selling Fairtrade food and drink products in our outlets since 2003. In 2022 the University renewed its Fairtrade University status, securing a two star award for the academic years 2020/21 and 2021/22.

What is Fairtrade?

Fairtrade aims to tackle the injustices of conventional trade and ensure that their farmers have decent working conditions and prices for the crops they grow.

We understand that choosing Fairtrade and ethically sourced products is one way we stand with those vulnerable communities at the front line of the climate crisis.

What is Fairtrade Fortnight?

Fairtrade Fortnight is an annual celebration of all things Fairtrade. This year, the event focused on encouraging people to switch to Fairtrade products so that farmers and workers overseas can protect the plant and safeguard the future of some of the UK’s favourite foods.

Great Food at Leeds and Fairtrade Fortnight 2023

Working with staff and students from a plethora of services and schools across the University, we have been busy showing our support for the farmers and workers behind our Fairtrade food and drink!

Here is how we got involved:

  • Brought Fairtrade products together for our customers at till points in our outlets to highlight the range of Fairtrade products available
  • Made Fairtrade bananas available to purchase across our outlets on campus
  • Served up delicious sticky toffee pudding with salted caramel bananas, made with Fairtrade bananas and sugar, in the Refectory

How can you get involved?

As a customer, you can be part of the Fairtrade movement – this applies all year round, not just during Fairtrade Fortnight! You have the power to drive long-term change, through your shopping choices and spreading the Fairtrade message.

You can get involved in local campaigns, Fairtrade Yorkshire has information on this. Support Fairtrade shops and cafés in the local area, see Fairtrade Leeds for details, or cook some recipes using Fairtrade products. If you missed our delicious sticky toffee pudding in the Refectory, why not have a go at making it yourself?

Follow our recipe below and share your bake with us on Instagram, @greatfoodleeds.

Sticky Toffee Pudding

Ingredients (makes 8 portions)

Sticky Toffee Pudding

  • 115g butter
  • 140g caster sugar
  • 175g self-raising flour
  • 1 egg
  • 140g dried, stoned dates
  • ¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda

Sauce

  • 100g caster sugar
  • 25g butter
  • 300ml double cream

Method

  1. Soak the dates before soaking in 190ml of cold water overnight
  2. Pre-heat the over to 160C / fan assisted 140C / gas mark 3
  3. Prepare a baking tin, grease and line with grease proof paper
  4. Beat the sugar and butter together in a large bowl until creamy in texture. Add the egg and mix until combined.
  5. To the butter and sugar, add half of the soaked dates, water they have been soaked in and flour. Fold this through gently. Repeat with the remaining dates, water and flour and add the bicarbonate of soda, fold in until fully combined.
  6. Transfer the mixture to the lined baking dish and bake for 20-25 minutes until risen and firm, or until a skewer comes out cle
  7. While the sticky toffee is cooking, start to make your sauce by dissolving the caster sugar in 4 tbsp of water in a pan over a low heat. Bring to the boil, but don’t stir the mixture.
  8. When the sugar turns a golden, caramel colour, whisk in the butter
  9. Remove from the heat and stir in the double cream
  10. Remove the pudding from the oven. Leave in the tin for a few minutes and then loosen them well from the sides of the tin. Serve with the sauce drizzled over!
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