How a small social enterprise re-established cooked meals for Dorset schools
Caroline Morgan, CEO Local Food Links, member of All Party Parliamentary Group on School Food and member of Love British Food Education Working Group
Local Food Links (LFL)
was established in Bridport, Dorset in 2006 to reintroduce hot school meals to 8 primary schools in the local area. Hot school meals had almost disappeared in Dorset Primary Schools during the 1980s and most schools had packed lunches only. For students entitled to free school meals, these packed lunches appeared in neon coloured bags, were produced in Nottingham and transported to Dorset every day.
The organisation was formed as a social enterprise and worked with local independent suppliers and the Food for Life Partnership to create homecooked meals that children would enjoy and a service that schools would value. LFL has created a delivered in service that works for Dorset and schools can either receive cook chilled or delivered in hot meals. A few schools also require a dirty return service where no washing up facilities have been retained.
LFL has grown considerably over the past 17 years and now works with 55 schools and several nurseries out of 3 large kitchens located in Blandford Forum, Bridport and Weymouth. Approximately 4,300 meals are produced every day and delivered by a fleet of vans and drivers. LFL is proud of the strong relationships that have been built with local suppliers and works in partnership with its school communities.
What makes Local Food Links special?
- LFL has created a school meals service that works for Dorset, supplying either cook chill or delivered in hot meals.
- LFL has created a bespoke online meal order system for parents and schools. The latest version of the system was relaunched 2 years ago and is now very user friendly and compatible with mobile phones.
- Schools can download daily and weekly reports from the online meal order system, showing which pupils have ordered meals, their choices and any allergies. The invoicing runs off the same system, so it is easy to check accuracy.
- We cater for all pupils with medical allergies and have built a gluten free preparation room in our newest hub kitchen in Weymouth.
- We respond directly to parent feedback and queries and are active on social media. Parents often approach us for recipes and we are happy to share them, in fact, to celebrate our 10th anniversary, we printed a recipe book and every child received one.
- We organise Parent Surveys to ensure the entire community has a say in menu development and meal choices.
- We organise lots of competitions for children to encourage engagement – “Design a Bookmark”, “Write a Short Story” (various themes for World Book Day), “Design a Cake for the Queen’s 90th Birthday, Summer Fun Quiz and Design the LFL Christmas Cards – a competition which has been running for many years.
- We care about the quality of our food and encourage daily feedback, which is collated and shared with all kitchens. We organise regular school visits too, recognising that a friendly face makes a positive difference and ensures that lunchtime teams feel listened to.
- We also offer support and training for lunchtime teams, including advice on meal service, allergies, portion control and hygiene.
- We organise termly online meetings with all our schools in each kitchen area so that schools can provide direct feedback on the food and service.
- Menus are bright, fun and child friendly; they are School Food Standards compliant and change every half term.
- We have excellent relationships with our suppliers and have been working with some of them since we started. All our meat, dairy and eggs are locally sourced as well as a considerable percentage of our fruit and vegetables. “Local” is in our name and we truly believe in supporting local, British producers.
What do our suppliers and schools think about LFL?
"Local Food Links not only delivers us outstanding quality and service in school meal provision, they have built a partnership with us at The Prince of Wales School over many many years. Local Food Links have helped us to establish a rich, food and farming education programme that helps all children to understand where their food comes from and the healthy choices they can make when consuming food. Local Food Links are always open to new ideas and I look forward to building on our work together in the future".
Gary Spracklen, Headteacher, The Prince of Wales First School, Dorchester
“The Hunt’s Food Group have been food suppliers to Local Food Links for over 10 years and have seen them grow from strength to strength. Along with being a consistent and innovative business their ethics are second to none. Food standards are always high on the agenda and where other school suppliers may want to purchase budget products to maximise profits, LFL have always looked closely at quality, traceability and ingredients. As a Dorset company ourselves we are happy to work alongside them to achieve their goal of providing freshly prepared meals for local school children.”
Gareth James, Sales Director, Hunt’s Food Group, Sherborne
“We have worked with Caroline & the team at Local Food Links for over 10 years. As a small local firm ourselves, their ethos of using quality British produce sits perfectly with our own ideals and we are proud of our continued partnership in helping to deliver quality, nutritious meals to the local school community.”
Andrew & Lindsey Clark, Little Angus Butchers, Dorchester
What motivates you to do your job?
Feeding children well is a key motivator for those who work in school meals – and you have to really believe in this. The organisation has grown as more and more schools have approached us about working together. The fact that we are a social enterprise and can ensure that any surplus goes back into our work with schools is a positive too.
We have won a Taste of the West Award, been nominated as one of the Top 100 Social Enterprises and were area winners as Scale Up Business of the Year for the Federation of Small Businesses in 2019.
I am a member of the All Party Parliamentary Group on School Food and proud to be a member of the Love British Food Group too. School meals can be, and generally are, excellent and we need to ensure that the industry is properly invested in by government so that more pupils can rely on a good, nutritious meal every day.
Share:
You may also be interested in...
As part of British Food Fortnight this year we would like you to welcome you to Honeybuns bakery for an exclusive peek behind the scenes. Taking place on Saturday 11 October, this exclusive event will include a tour of our artisan bakery, followed by a guided walk around the nature reserve here at Naish Farm, and finishing with oodles of cake tastings (of course!). We have two sessions on the day. The first runs from 2.00pm to 3.30pm, and the second from 3.30pm to 5.00pm. £15 per person payable on booking. All monies go to The Big Yellow Bus Garden Project, a local community garden. Spaces are limited so make sure you book your place. Contact details below.
Growing numbers of customers want to buy British food Support for British farmers and food producers is palpable here in the South West. The snaking queues at numerous farm shops such as Teals, Darts Farm and Felicity’s are testament to a growing market for thoughtfully and locally produced fresh food. The phenomenon that is Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat has also turbo charged interest in our amazing British food heritage. Deliciously stocked rural vending machines are also tapping into this sustained interested in artisan food. Our local one at Woodbridge Farm, home of the esteemed Blue Vinny cheese, sells beautiful chutneys, cheeses, yoghurt and fresh milk with not a single mass produced sausage roll in sight. You can pop in there 24/7 knowing that everything there is made either on the farm or in Dorset. According to Emily Davies, owner of Blue Vinney, "With business costs rising and no proportional improvement in the milk price for decades it has provided us with an invaluable opportunity of maintaining control over our own products as well as a brilliant shop window for education, trialling anything new or seasonal and just having fun." Quoting from the Public Sector Catering website, “more than 80% of people surveyed believe it’s important to buy British Food”. The stats from the Red Tractor Assurance Scheme are even more heartening, “91% trust UK food that is exclusively produced in the UK”. British Farming and Food have weathered the storm - it’s now time to celebrate Following on from the brutal challenges of the pandemic, lockdowns and the ensuing cost of living crisis, consumer confidence fell in British Food from 2021-2024. The Ukraine crisis with its disruption to the supply of key ingredients from wheat to sunflower oil led the United Nations to state, “The United Nations has warned that the combination of COVID-19 pandemic and Russia-Ukraine crisis has led to the biggest food crisis after the World War II”. Gloomy days indeed - heaven knows we are ready for a bit of a party. So the fact that trust in British Food is now at its highest since 2021 truly is something to celebrate. By popping up your British Food Fortnight bunting and going all red white and blue on your chosen day(s) your team and your customers can wave the flag for our fabulous food heritage. From the iconic Cornish pasty to the creamy Cranachan of the Highlands, our beloved isle is full to bursting with gastronomic treasure.
The organisers of British Food Fortnight and its official retail partner, Morrisons, have launched this year’s Community Competition to identify and recognise individuals, community groups, and organisations driving positive change in their local food systems. A key initiative which runs from 26 September to 12 October, the newly titled Love British Food Champion of Change competition is a celebration of the people creating deeper connections to British produce across their communities. In partnership with Love British Food, Morrisons is encouraging nominations from individuals and organisations, with the retailer’s in store network of community champions playing a key role in the nominations process. Morrisons Community Manager, Joseph Clark-Bland, said; “The Champion of Change competition is a chance for the industry to celebrate the unsung heroes working tirelessly to make British food the first choice on every plate. We look forward to giving recognition to those who share Morrisons values by inspiring others to explore the incredible variety and quality of food grown right here in the UK.” The competition provides a platform for recognising those creating stronger connections with British food. Morrisons’ involvement in this initiative aligns with its ongoing efforts to support a sustainable food system and champion the use of high-quality, locally sourced British ingredients. Love British Food founder, Alexia Robinson encourages competition entries ahead of the deadline on 12 October 2025. “We’d love to hear about inspirational people, whether they’re championing British produce from farms or in schools, universities, care homes, hospitals or restaurants. Nominees could be making a tangible difference by reducing food waste, food miles, alleviating food poverty, or promoting healthy, seasonal diets. Any initiative that supports British food and encourages others to make informed food choices would make ideal candidates, so please share their stories with us.”
Get ready to savour success during British Food Fortnight. Love British Food, in partnership with Morrisons, is seeking extraordinary individuals and community groups making a real difference in their local food systems to crown the 2025 Champion of Change. The newly launched community competition is a key initiative during British Food Fortnight which runs from 26 September to 12 October. An opportunity to celebrate the people creating deeper connections to Britain’s food roots, the campaign founder, Alexia Robinson encourages people to submit competition entries. “This is an opportunity to recognise the hard work of those building a better, more sustainable food future. If you’re driving change in your community, we want to share your inspirational stories! “In 24 years of organising British Food Fortnight, one thing that consistently astounds me is the dedication of people working at a grass roots level. Anyone making a tangible difference, whether by reducing food waste, food miles, alleviating food poverty, or promoting healthy diets, any initiative that supports British food and encourages others to make informed food choices are worthy champions.” As Love British Food’s official retail partner, Morrisons, is encouraging nominations from its customers through the store’s network of community managers. Morrisons Community Manager, Joseph Clark-Bland encourages people from across the UK to get involved; “As champions of British food, we are delighted to support Love British Food’s Champion of Change competition. This is a chance to celebrate the unsung heroes who work tirelessly to make British food the first choice on every plate. The competition provides an exciting platform to recognise those having a lasting impact on their communities by developing a stronger connection with British food.” Individuals can submit their nominations online, sharing why their nominee deserves to be celebrated in no more than 500 words. The deadline is Sunday, 12 October 2025. For more information please visit: https://www.lovebritishfood.co.uk/community-competition
Here at Fresh Direct, the UK’s leading wholesale fresh produce supplier, we fully understand our responsibility to set a precedent for others to follow when it comes to sustainability. Our vision is very clear – we will continue to lead the industry by championing UK farmers, embracing regenerative practices, and driving meaningful change across the sector – and we have a number of initiatives under way to deliver this vision. Irrespective of sector, the public care more than ever about where their food comes from and the standards in place to demonstrate sustainable sourcing. And as part of our efforts to meet customer needs, we recently announced a commitment to ensure all contracted UK fresh produce growers are LEAF Marque certified by the end of 2025. This move strengthens our environmental standards, with a focus on supporting growers to implement more sustainable farming practices. These include energy efficiency and carbon reduction, responsible soil and water management, minimising waste, and enhancing local biodiversity. Our Managing Director Andy Pembroke, said: “As a business, we are not only committed to reducing our impact on the environment, but also to ensuring we make a positive contribution to a more sustainable future for farming. And we want to work with growers who share that vision. Making this pledge for all our contracted UK fresh produce to be LEAF Marque certified represents a real step forward for our sector and we are grateful for the support of our growers who have really stepped up to the challenge. It’s also fantastic news for our customers who can see our demonstrable commitment to a sustainable future.” As we work towards full LEAF certification by the end of 2025, the initiative aligns with broader efforts to accelerate the transition to more resilient, transparent, and environmentally conscious food systems. Clare Mike, Director of Technical & Business Development at LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming), added: “Fresh Direct’s pledge is a significant milestone in the journey towards more sustainable and resilient farming systems. This commitment not only supports the adoption of Integrated Farm Management practices but also demonstrates a proactive approach to climate change, biodiversity, and soil and water health. We’re proud to collaborate with forward-thinking partners like Fresh Direct, whose leadership sets a powerful example for the entire foodservice sector.” She added: “This exemplifies the kind of collaborative action needed across the agri-food sector to drive meaningful change. By aligning its supply chain with LEAF Marque standards, Fresh Direct is not only enhancing the sustainability of their operations but also setting a precedent for others to follow. It is through such leadership and commitment that we can build a more resilient food system for the future.” It's a cliché – but as an organisation it’s true that we are on a journey to deliver a better future. I have confidence my expert colleagues and the network of committed British growers we work with will take us to a destination we can all be proud of. Contributor Bio Lee O’Mahoney is Brand Marketing Manager at Fresh Direct . Along with the rest of the Marketing team his focus is on championing the brand, communicating the market leading initiatives the organisation delivers, and putting a voice behind dedicated partner growers and their glorious produce.
As British Food Fortnight approaches (26 September to 12 October), food supply chain partners are joining forces to champion Love British Food’s call for businesses and consumers to ‘Make the Switch’ and choose British produce – not only during the campaign, but all year round. The pledge encourages retailers, public sector caterers, hospitality providers, and households to make small, manageable changes to their buying habits, opting for seasonal British ingredients wherever possible. This approach, say campaign supporters, can have a ripple effect – boosting food security, strengthening local supply chains, and safeguarding high welfare and environmental standards. Alexia Robinson, Founder of Love British Food, says: “Supporting British food doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing approach. By encouraging businesses and home cooks – to take one simple step with their food choices, we can make a lasting difference to the resilience of our food system.” Industry figures backing the pledge include the campaign’s partners Bon Culina, Brakes, Fresh Direct and Glebe Farm. Collectively, they are calling on their networks to play an active role in ensuring that British farmers’ produce reaches more plates across the UK. The campaign comes at a time when food security is under increasing scrutiny, and when the public is being urged to recognise the value of Britain’s world-class farming. By making small, conscious choices to buy British, consumers and businesses alike can invest in farm businesses, support rural communities, and create a more sustainable future for UK food and farming. British Food Fortnight is the UK’s biggest annual, national celebration of the diverse, sustainable food produced across the country.
Both British Food Fortnight (26 September – 12 October) and the National Harvest Service at Westminster Abbey (16 October), serve as important reminders of the essential role that British farming plays in our economy, communities and national security. Our farmers consistently produced world-class food. But unless there’s a clear route from farm to fork – through retail shelves, foodservice and hospitality menus – we risk undervaluing this national asset. Love British Food continues to call on businesses and consumers to pledge to ‘make the switch’ – to consciously choose British produce. While the concept of ‘buy British’ is not new, the impact of making small, manageable seasonal switches is often underestimated. Seemingly small changes can create a ripple effect, ensuring a more resilient, sustainable food system. The commitment to support British food is not an ‘all or nothing’ approach. By encouraging retailers, caterers, and consumers to take one simple step with their food choices, we can strengthen our food supply chain. At a time when food security is increasingly under scrutiny, the ‘small switch’ approach provides a realistic pathway to supporting British food and farming. It ensures that we are investing in farm businesses, while building a more sustainable food system for the future. We urge everyone to pledge to make the switch, and make a lasting difference, together. Alexia Robinson, Founder, Love British Food Andy Jones, Head of Service Development, Bon Culina Cathy Amos, Head of Customer Marketing Public Sector, Brakes James Armitage, Marketing Director, Fresh Direct Phil Rayner, Owner and MD and Jez Allman, Head of Commercial, Glebe Farm Foods Jenny Jefferies, Author, Food Columnist, Producer & Campaigner
As proud partners of Love British Food, Bon Culina and Glebe Farm Foods recently came together for a visit that celebrated collaboration across the food supply chain. The Bon Culina team, led by Head of Service Development Andy Jones, was welcomed to Glebe Farm Foods’ state-of-the-art facilities in Cambridgeshire by Philip Rayner, Managing Director and Founder for a tour and first-hand insight into their unique gluten-free oat production. The visit highlighted a shared mission – to ensure that British produce is celebrated, understood, and chosen across public sector catering procurement, from hospitals and care homes to schools and universities. A meeting of shared values Both Bon Culina and Glebe Farm Foods are committed to high-quality British ingredients, shorter supply chains, and sustainability. For Bon Culina, this means sourcing as locally as possible, building strong relationships with producers, and maintaining rigorous standards for nutrition and taste across the 151 hospitals they supply. For Glebe Farm Foods, it means managing Britain’s only farm-to-table gluten-free oat supply chain – from sowing and harvesting through to processing and packaging – right here in the UK. Andy Jones, past chair of HCA and PSCA and who sits on government think tanks, praised the visit as “enlightening” and commended the cleanliness and efficiency of Glebe Farm Foods’ processing operation. He noted how seeing the journey from field to finished product reinforces the value of connecting caterers directly with producers. Strengthening the public sector’s British food offering The collaboration is more than just a meeting of minds – it’s a practical step towards increasing the availability and visibility of British-grown ingredients in public sector menus. By building understanding between suppliers and caterers, both organisations can help overcome barriers, identify new recipe opportunities, and promote provenance to consumers. As part of the day’s discussions, Andy encouraged Glebe Farm Foods to explore opportunities with public sector catering bodies such as the Hospital Caterers Association, LACA, TUCO, and the National Association of Care Catering. These forums provide a direct route to decision-makers and can help amplify the role of British food in the sector. A legacy of championing British Andy’s involvement in Love British Food spans over two decades, alongside his leadership in campaigns such as Nutrition and Hydration Week. He believes initiatives like the Glebe Farm Foods visit are vital in turning seasonal campaigns into long-term change. “Partnerships like this are how we make a real difference,” Andy said. “From farm to fork, everyone has a role to play in ensuring the food we serve is not only nutritious and delicious, but also supports our farmers, reduces food miles, and strengthens our national food security.” Of the visit, Philip said: “Meetings such as the one with Bon Culina help develop relationships and recipes with Glebe Farm Foods . It’s a great way to ensure we can both work to get more British food and drink into hospitals and schools.” A view to the future The visit has already sparked ideas for how Glebe Farm Foods’ products might be incorporated into Bon Culina’s recipes, helping to broaden their British offering while keeping quality and sustainability at the forefront. Both teams left the day energised by the potential for collaboration – proving that when producers and caterers work hand in hand, British food can truly take centre stage in the public sector. Visit BonCulina Foodservice and Home - Glebe Farm for more information. Love British Food partners can arrange a similar visit by emailing: office@glebefarmfoods.co.uk
