We're a Value Driven Business
When I founded the Real Food Café in 2004, my vision was to run a restaurant that was accessible to all and served sustainably sourced delicious food. As the years went by, I was fortunate enough to see this vision become a reality. Today, people from all walks of life—whether they’re travelling through Scotland on the A82, or journeying the West Highland Way— find comfort and sustenance at our welcoming pitstop.
Speaking of sustenance, there’s a good reason our food has won awards! The vast majority of our menu items are handmade, and we promote and source Scottish produce whenever possible. What’s more, I’m confident our certified gluten-free options have raised the bar in terms of flavour and safe service.
Our success wouldn’t be possible without our hard-working team; one in which an employee isn’t just a worker but a valued member of our extended family. We’ve always striven to create high-quality, meaningful jobs and provide a harmonious working environment. Continuously supporting learning and development, we encourage our team to grow in both a personal and professional sense.
All of the above is extremely important and the cornerstone of any successful business. Without it, The Real Food Café wouldn’t be what it is today. But it’s because of this cornerstone, this foundation of our success, that we have a springboard from which to view the bigger picture. Never content to rest on our laurels, we’ve always invested in growth and development, safeguarding our ethos for future generations of employees and customers.
The question that drives us is what, beyond owners, staff, and customers, is our higher purpose?
When we say we’re more than just a café, we mean it. The work of Alan and I, as the business founder and principal owners, is to create a lasting legacy that reinforces this. One that’s always expanding, encompassing the local, national, and global.
- By Sarah Heward, Founder & Co-owner
Here at the RFC, we’re more than just a cafe; we’re part of a broader community—of Tyndrum, Scotland, and beyond. Whether it’s the relationships we maintain with local suppliers, our charitable projects, or our commitment to inclusivity, care and sustainability are the lifeblood of our brand.
Food Quality & Sustainability
Local and Sustainable Sourcing
When it comes to sourcing, we adhere to the highest standards. Conscious of our environmental impact, as well as the importance of supporting local businesses, we buy Scottish produce whenever feasible.
From supplier to cafe to customer, we ensure nothing less than the best of the best.
Our Suppliers
Local, National, Global
Community Engagement & Social Responsibility
Locally, nationally, globally, we care deeply about our impact and responsibility. As such, we want to ensure we have a positive effect on the environment and the people within it.
Our ongoing litter picking campaign has spanned from Tyndrum to Glasgow, helping rural businesses and protecting local wildlife.
But our charitable efforts aren’t only confined to Scotland. We collaborate with Toilet Twinning to bring clean water to the people of Malawi, and raised enough to enable 170 families to build their first-ever toilet.
Our community is always growing and we warmly welcome new members. If you’d like to get involved with any of our ongoing projects, sign up to our newsletter or follow os on social media.
We’re always thinking of new ways we can make a difference, so keep your eyes peeled for future ventures!
Our Community Work
Supportive workplace with opportunities for everyone
Building Brilliant Teams
Our amazing team is at the heart of what we do. We're striving to become the best employer by promoting a supportive workplace culture with opportunities for everyone.
In 2024 we won Staff Training & Development Award at the National Fish & Chip Awards 2024 and earned a spot in the Top 30 best places to work in hospitality by The Caterer in 2023 and 2024.
Careers Page
A welcoming place for everyone
Committed to Inclusivity
Whether it’s our certified gluten-free menu, providing access to those with disability, or ensuring our employees receive a fair living wage, we always seek to be as caring and inclusive as possible.
We take our responsibility to customers extremely seriously, ensuring that the food you eat is safe as well as delicious. For no small reason do we have an A grade as an Accredited Caterer from Coeliac UK. Knowing the importance of managing cross-contamination, we are dedicated to ensuring those with coeliac can eat a truly gluten-free meal—when we say gluten-free we mean it!
We also offer a range of vegetarian or vegan items (made using exclusive cooking equipment) and provide a list of allergens for every item on our menu.
When visiting our cafe, we consider you a part of our extended community. Therefore, for you to get the most out of your experience, we kindly ask you to familiarise yourself with a few of our ground rules. We’re all in this together!
Gluten Free Menu