Love British Food’s inaugural ‘Public Sector Influencers’ event on Wednesday 20th March is set to connect the most influential people in the public sector with British farmers, producers and suppliers.

All major public sector providers are attending, for a day of frank discussion and shared sense of purpose. The public sector has the potential to be a huge customer for British farming, and this event will explain clearly and directly how farmers can sell into it.

The aim is to agree a shared vision of what all involved in the supply chain, and those hoping to be involved, can aspire to.

The event is taking place on Stuart Robert’s farm. Stuart is a cereal, beef and sheep farmer - he is one of the most well-known and passionate advocates for farming and consumer engagement.

Stuart Roberts, cereal, beef and sheep farmer, Hammonds End farm, Hertfordshire and former NFU Deputy President:

“Love British Food has led the way for a long time in promoting British food and farming to the public sector. I am delighted to host their public sector influencers event on my farm. I am looking forward to working with them to share the true societal and environment value of buying British; and lead farmers to understand the commercial opportunity of supplying schools, hospitals and other institutions.”

Phil Shelley, Chair NHS Food Review and National Lead for Net Zero Food, NHS England:

“This is the first time that public sector leaders, providers, suppliers and farmers have gathered together to discuss the supply chain. Momentum is building as we in the public sector, want to buy more British food. I hope this event provides farmers the confidence to invest in supplying the public sector helping us, as buyers, to understand the true value of buying British. There will be plenty of frank discussions I am sure. What better place to have them, than on a farm. Thank you to Love British Food for organising.”

Alexia Robinson, Love British Food Founder:

“Everyone we work with in the public sector agrees that we are on the cusp of real change in the way food is procured. There is an increasingly shared vision and agreement that purchasing from British suppliers should be the aspiration for NHS Trusts, Local Authorities, schools, universities, care homes and other public institutions. All have targets to deliver on sustainability, net zero, the environment and, most important, the need to provide nutritional food to the young, the sick, the elderly, their staff and other members of the public. 

Interestingly, this aspiration has not been as widely communicated to our farmers and producers, many of whom do not view or understand the public sector as a customer. 

This event aims to go beyond talk of aspirations and the detail of government buying standards to a frank discussion on the nitty gritty reality of how we can all work together to deliver robust supply chains of quality food to the vast public sector. Love British Food has always been about delivering positive change for local communities across the UK. That means tangible benefits, where advantages are felt in farms, businesses and the wider local economy.

Real change will be best achieved through showing caterers and influencers the benefits of buying British first-hand on a farm; and giving farmers the opportunity to explain to buyers what they, in turn, need from buyers in order to deliver. Meetings in dusty Westminster committee rooms, which have been discussing this since 2014!, have delivered little and the government buying standards remain in the long grass.

Gathering such an array of established and influential names will take our activities with the public sector to the next level - our national programme of farm visits has already made waves, but we’re hopeful that this event will help to put food security on the map within all elements of the public sector.

Public sector leaders can play their role - through sourcing more food from British farmers and producers. Helping to give them the confidence they need to invest and grow their business, ultimately delivering the domestic production capacity that we need to ensure our food security.

An increasingly volatile global picture has had an impact on food supply chains that has not been fully appreciated by anyone at the heart of Government - we are aiming to change that.” 

ENDS

Notes to the Editor:

Love British Food farm visits, see the short film:

https://www.lovebritishfood.co.uk/farm-visits

Capacity if limited but if you are interested in attending, please email: alexiarobinson@lovebritishfood.co.uk

Love British Food has further public sector farm visits planned this year to:

The Holkham Estate hosted by Jake Fiennes

Wales hosted by Patrick Holden

Attendees:

Public Sector:

Phil Shelly, NHS England

Tim Radcliffe, NHS England and Director Love British Food

Derek Wright, Blackpool Local Authority, LACA director and Director Love British Food

Chair Public Sector Catering Alliance: Matt White

Milton Keynes Hospital and Chair Love British Food Hospital and Care Catering Working Group: Frank Fiore

TUCO: Jane Eve and Graeme Collie

HCA: Iain Robertson

HCA London SE: Rupi Valentine

Sodexo: Militsa Pribetich-Gill

Compass: Lone Middleton, Victoria Murray and Egle Cironkaite

Brakes: Cathy Amos and James Armitage

ISS: Ika Bobrowska

NHS Supply: Kirstin Morris

Caterforce: Tom Matthew

OCS: Leigh Ashley

Bon Culina: Colin Clarke

Apetito: Lee Sheppard

Aramark: Phil Quinn 

Producers:

Yeo Valley: Bobby Houghton-Brown

Potatoes: Nick Wright

Dairy: Charles Goadby, Amy Eggleston and Michael Oakes

AB Fruits: Roberto Bosco

Organic beef, Derbyshire: Tom Sebire and Nicky Stonebridge

Beef and lamb: Rob Pratt

Lee Valley Growers

Arable: Jamie Burrows

Beef and cereals: Sarah Bell

Dairy: Claire Daw

Nuffield scholars studying public sector supply chains: Hannah Fraser and Tom Pearson

Media:

Farmers Guardian: Emily Ashworth

PSC: David Foad

Contract Catering: Henry Norman tbc

Six Inches of Soil film producer and representing Cambridge Children’s hospital: Claire Mackenzie

Agenda

10.30     Welcome and introduction



• Overview of expectations of the day
• An on-farm working discussion on how public sector providers can work together with farmers and food producers to achieve robust supply chains of nutritious food
• Aim is to enhance understanding of exactly how farmers can supply the public sector;
• …and explain to public sector caterers why buying from British farmers will help them meet their sustainability and net zero targets and deliver the nutritious food they need.
• Outcome is to map the existing and potential supply chain opportunities; and help the British farming industry understand the public sector as customer so that more farmers invest in supplying them in the future.

11.00   Farm tour led by Stuart Roberts and Rob Pratt – answering the question ‘Why Buy British’

1pm     Lunch

1.30      Sector by sector discussion

•  Farmers will be paired with a public sector lead to discuss the nitty gritty of the supply chain:
• NHS Supply and Frank Fiore : Michael Oakes, Stuart Roberts and Nick Wright (compered by Tim Radcliffe, NHS England)
• Derek Wright : Derbyshire beef, Claire Daw and Amy Eggleston (compered by Alexia Robinson, Love British Food)
•  TUCO : Sarah Bell, Rob Pratt and Jamie Burrows (compered by Matt White, PSC Chair)
• what is possible, how does it work currently, how can it work better.
• who are the influencers in the supply chain making the key decisions on value and price.

3. 30     End