CREDIT : LUSH
STRATEGIC SOURCING
Gabbi ’ s favourite Lush products are the solid shampoo bars , which she describes as “ a joy ” due to their multi-purpose nature , and Ultrabland – a “ beautiful , gentle ” cleanser that took off on social media in 2024 .
“ My grandfather was the first person to introduce the blueberry to the UK after the Second World War and no one really knew what a blueberry was back then , as they ’ re a North American plant ,” David explains .
Starting with just 100 plants , the farm thrived thanks to the fertile Dorset soil and went on to become the UK ’ s first commercial blueberry supplier . “ You get the best quality product if we freeze the blueberries before they arrive at the Lush Fresh Kitchen ,” David emphasises . “ The real benefits of blueberry are not found in the white inside , but from its skin .” This commitment to sourcing high-quality , sustainable ingredients is overseen by Gabbi Loedolff , Lush ’ s Director of Buying .
With 23 years of experience at Lush , Gabbi balances environmental responsibility , ethical sourcing and cost control . Her role ensures Lush ’ s strict policies – including non-animal testing and Fair Share guidelines – are adhered to at every step .
I sat down with Gabbi to discuss all things strategic sourcing at Lush .
“ I think our biggest opportunity is really working with our existing supply base , close to a thousand suppliers , and fully understanding all of their processes and the opportunities , as well as the things to celebrate that they ’ re already doing well ,” she explained .
Her team assesses suppliers through questionnaires , audits and visits , using tools such as Authenticate to map supply chains . Meanwhile , certifications for high-risk materials , such as fair-trade cocoa , add transparency . procurementmag . com 113