The Source
Beautiful writing about delicious British food. Articles, comments and musings from our contributors.
Love British Food organised the first ever meeting of public sector decision makers to discuss increasing the supply of British sourced food into UK public sector supply chains. The event took place on 20th March in Hertfordshire at Hammonds End Farm, owned by Stuart Roberts.
Love British Food have produced a report detailing the key findings from this meeting, released today.
The key recommendations from the report include:
- To increase farmer understanding of the public sector as a customer and to encourage more farmers to view the public sector as a viable partner.
- A commitment to encourage and maintain progress where it has been made.
- Strengthen commitments to buy British in the new Government Buying Standards.
- Promote a higher level of understanding of the potential opportunities provided by the Crown Commercial Service buying system, the UK’s largest public procurement organisation.
- Encourage food service providers to include a ‘Buy British’ category in product listings.
The discussion between the relevant stakeholders will continue through a new Love British Food podcast launching this month, with the approach detailed within this report framing future efforts. Love British Food will also continue to lead engagement with two more farm visits already planned for this year and will continue to engage with stakeholders through two industry working groups.
Alexia Robinson, Love British Food Founder:
“In Britain we produce fantastic food. At our landmark meeting with public sector influencers, we gathered invaluable insights that have framed our report.
Encouraging a Buy British policy within the public sector is not only more sustainable, helping them to meet their targets on net zero, sustainability and social value but it will also give more people access to high quality, locally sourced British food.
We look forward to continuing to lead engagement within the public sector, with the final ambition of a principle for buyers to look carefully at their supply chains and to make British farmers the first food supplier of choice throughout the entire public sector.”
We will continue to work with decision makers in the public sector to make the ambitions within this report a reality.”
Stuart Roberts, cereal, beef and sheep farmer, Hammonds End Farm:
“Love British Food has led the way for a long time in promoting British food and farming to the public sector. 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.”
Link to report:
Share:
You may also be interested in...
For centuries Britain has celebrated the harvest from the land. This autumn, for the first time, the nation will come together to celebrate the harvest of the sea.
From community gardens springing up on forgotten patches of land to school cooks inspiring the next generation, local food heroes are changing lives in communities across the UK – and Love British Food wants to find them.
Love British Food has welcomed Red Tractor as its Lead Assurance Partner for 2026, bringing the two organisations together to champion British food.
Fresh Direct Strengthens Commitment to British Produce with Renewed Support for Love British Food
Harvest Torch on Tour Across Cheshire ahead of National Harvest Service As Love British Food celebrates 25 years of championing British food, its symbolic Harvest Torch is making a special journey across Cheshire, bringing communities together in celebration of British farming, food and harvest.
British Food and British Beer – Perfect Partners By Jane Peyton, Love British Food Ambassador If you are reading this, you support British food so this’ll make your mouth water. Welsh lamb, Cromer crab, Cornish stargazy pie, Aberdeen Angus steak, Gloucestershire Old Spot ham, blue Stilton cheese, marsh samphire, Eton Mess with English strawberries, Worcestershire apple crumble and clotted cream. Now imagine your favourite British dishes served with a perfectly matched British beer. I’ll lead the cheers to that suggestion!
Love British Food Champions Supply Chain Collaboration During Panel Discussion Love British Food brought together leaders from across farming, foodservice, hospitality, retail supply and public sector catering at the Royal Three Counties Show 2026 for a positive and practical discussion on the future of British sourcing.
Alexia Robinson, CEO and founder of Love British Food responds to the School Food Standards consultation launched on 13 April 2026. The government’s nine-week, England-only consultation runs until 12 June 2026 and sits alongside proposals for tougher compliance, online publication of menus and food policies, and a lead governor for school food.
