Food Procurement

The Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative in a nutshell

The public sector in England spends £2 billion on food and catering services. The Government wants to use this buying power to help deliver the principle aims of the Government's Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food in England. That is, to deliver a world-class sustainable farming and food sector that contributes to a better environment and healthier and prosperous communities.

The Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative's five priority objectives are to:

Raid production and process standards
Increase tenders from small and local producers
Increase consumption of healthy and nutritious food
Reduce adverse environmental impacts of production and supply
Increase capacity of small and local suppliers to meet demand

For a quick introduction to the PSFPI - read the leaflet: Unlocking opportunites: lifting the lid on public sector food procurement.

Further benefits can be achieve if we can increase public demand for regional produce and if businesses and the public sector adopt procurement practices that enable local suppliers to compete effectively.

A Working Group was set up to facilitate activity within the region. More information on what has been delivered can be found at www.northeastiep.gov.uk/collabprocurement/supplychains.htm.

Further information can be obtained from Bill Kirkup the Sustainable Procurement Project Officer at the North East Improvement and Efficiency Partnership on Telephone 07766 500054 or e-mail Bill.kirkup@northeastcouncils.gov.uk.