Feeding Sheffield’s Future

Sheffield is moving to the next step in a fairer, healthier and greener food economy. With a data-backed roadmap set out in the Feeding the Future report, our city has a real opportunity to transform the way food is produced, sourced, and consumed. The plan lays out a vision for a sustainable and resilient local food economy, one that prioritises Sheffield’s farmers, food producers, and communities over faceless national suppliers. Now, it’s up to us to turn that vision into reality.

The Feeding the Future report launched this March was commissioned by ShefFood and the University of Sheffield and completed by the Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES), with input from experts across the city, including Fork Consulting, Sheffield City Council, and local anchor institutions. The research involved extensive interviews and data analysis to understand how food is currently procured by Sheffield’s schools, hospitals, and universities, and where the opportunities lie for shifting towards a more sustainable and locally focused system. The findings highlight the challenges and barriers to local procurement but also present a clear roadmap for change that can benefit the economy, the environment, and public health.

At ShefFood, Sheffield’s food partnership, we are leading the charge to ensure that more of our city’s food procurement benefits local businesses and residents. By working closely with public institutions such as schools, hospitals, and universities—who collectively spend £14 million on food each year—ShefFood aims to ensure that a larger slice of that budget stays within the region, supporting local jobs, businesses, and food sustainability.

So, why does local food procurement matter? Currently, two-thirds of Sheffield’s public food budget is spent with large, national suppliers, many of whom operate outside the city and often source food from further afield. This not only drains wealth from our local economy but also reduces food security and increases our carbon footprint. The report highlights the stark reality that our food system is dominated by large corporations that prioritise profits over people and the planet, leading to food insecurity, poor health outcomes, and environmental degradation.

On the flip side, investing in a local food system creates numerous benefits:

Economic Growth: Supporting Sheffield-based food suppliers helps keep money circulating within the city, strengthening our local economy.

Better Health: Fresh, locally sourced food is often healthier and more nutritious than mass-produced, heavily processed alternatives.

Environmental Sustainability: Reducing the distance food travels helps lower carbon emissions and promotes sustainable farming practices.

Resilient Supply Chains: A stronger local food network makes Sheffield less dependent on national and global supply chains, protecting us from food shortages and price fluctuations.

The Feeding the Future report outlines several key interventions that can help transform Sheffield’s food system. These include:

Developing a Sheffield Food Standard – A city-wide agreement on what constitutes “healthy,” “local,” and “sustainable” food. This would guide public food procurement and encourage businesses to adopt better food sourcing practices.

Better Data and Transparency – Anchor institutions need clearer data on where their food is coming from. By sharing information and tracking supplier origins, Sheffield can begin to shift procurement towards more local sources.

Collaboration with Large Wholesalers – National suppliers currently dominate the procurement landscape, but ShefFood is working to ensure that local food producers can integrate into these supply chains, making it easier for institutions to buy local.

Product-Specific Focus Areas – The report suggests prioritising certain food categories that can be more easily sourced locally, such as dairy, bread, eggs, and pre-processed vegetables.

Strengthening Local Supplier Networks – One of the biggest challenges for smaller producers is navigating the complex public procurement process. ShefFood is working to bridge this gap by providing training, guidance, and matchmaking opportunities between suppliers and buyers.

A Shared Procurement Platform – The possibility of developing a local supplier framework or online marketplace where institutions can easily find and purchase from Sheffield-based food producers.

ShefFood isn’t just talking about change; it’s actively driving it forward. Our Good Food Economy and Procurement working group, which includes representatives from anchor institutions and local food businesses, is already pushing for immediate action. While systemic change takes time, there are “quick wins” that can be implemented now, such as:

Encouraging schools and hospitals to introduce more local dairy and bakery products.

Improving communication between public institutions and local food suppliers.

Identifying local businesses that can meet the needs of large-scale procurement.

By intensifying collaboration between local organisations, businesses, and policymakers, we can build momentum and make meaningful progress towards a fairer and more sustainable food system.

This isn’t just a report—it’s a call to action. If you care about where Sheffield’s food comes from, if you want to support local businesses or are a local food business yourself, and if you believe in a healthier and more resilient food system, then now is the time to get involved.

We invite everyone—residents, businesses, food producers, and decision-makers—to join our next Good Food Economy working group meeting. Together, we can turn this ambitious roadmap into a reality, ensuring that Sheffield leads the way in sustainable food procurement. Visit the sheffood.org.uk/events for our next event or email the team at [email protected]. You can read the full report at sheffood.org.uk/strategy-research/.

The future of food in Sheffield is in our hands. Let’s make it local, sustainable, and fair for all.