A food partnership is more than just a network of organisations; it’s a collaborative effort to transform the way a city or town engages with food. Food affects every aspect of life—our health, economy, environment, and sense of community. But too often, food systems are shaped by disconnected decisions made by those at the top, leading to problems like food poverty, waste, and unhealthy diets. A food partnership seeks to join the dots, bringing together local councils, businesses, community groups, and individuals to create a food system that works for everyone.
Across the UK, food partnerships have become a driving force in reshaping local food economies. They work under the umbrella of Sustainable Food Places, a national programme that supports towns, cities, and regions in developing strategies for healthier, fairer, and more sustainable food. The programme is led by a coalition of organisations, including the Soil Association, Food Matters, and Sustain. It exists because tackling food-related challenges requires more than just national policy—it demands local action that fits our local communities.
Food partnerships vary in structure, but they all serve a similar purpose: to provide a space where public agencies, businesses, charities, farmers, and researchers can work together. These partnerships don’t just talk about food issues—they take action, whether by influencing policy, running food education programmes, supporting sustainable farming, or addressing food insecurity. The goal is to create a more resilient, community-led food system that improves health, reduces inequality, and protects the environment.
No single organisation has the power to transform a city’s food landscape alone. Councils may control planning and procurement, but they rely on businesses and charities to deliver real change. Supermarkets and food producers can influence supply chains, but they need public demand for sustainable products. Community organisations run food banks and growing projects, but they depend on policy and funding to scale up their impact. A food partnership acts as the glue, connecting these different players and ensuring their efforts align towards shared goals.
In Sheffield, ShefFood is leading this movement. As the city’s official food partnership, ShefFood is a cross-sector network made up of more than 100 organisations, including public institutions, retailers, food pantries, community groups, eateries, farmers, producers and more. By fostering collaboration, it helps drive city-wide change, ensuring that food initiatives across Sheffield are connected, effective, and working towards a shared vision.
Sheffield faces food challenges like rising insecurity, making it hard for many to access healthy meals. Environmental issues from food waste and unsustainable supply chains are also rising. Local food businesses need our support in this corporate-driven economy. However, Sheffield boasts a vibrant independent food scene, numerous community projects, and a passionate network focused on food sourcing and production. ShefFood aims to harness these strengths, promoting Sheffield’s fairer, healthier food landscape.
The partnership has made significant progress. Sheffield received Bronze and Silver Sustainable Food Places Awards in four years, showcasing the city’s commitment to change. ShefFood launched the Local Food Action Plan in 2023 to improve the food system. Updated with a 2025 addendum, it now better represents Sheffield’s population and acts as a living document. The LFAP was revised due to gaps from not engaging with BAMER groups.
ShefFood is all about five key themes: food and health, growing and composting, economy, food citizenship, and community provision. These themes inspire our passionate working groups, which come together throughout the year to tackle challenges, share creative ideas, and promote exciting local initiatives. Our meetings are a wonderful opportunity for collaboration, bringing together a variety of voices to help shape Sheffield’s food system, all rooted in our local knowledge best.
One of the most amazing things about a food partnership is how quickly it can spring into action to tackle challenges. During the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous local food partnerships across the UK stepped up in wonderful ways, coordinating emergency food responses to make sure vulnerable individuals had access to food, even with supply chain disruptions.
Similarly, as families persist in facing the impacts of the cost of living crisis, food partnerships such as ShefFood are committed to assisting those struggling to afford healthy meals while also addressing the underlying issues of food insecurity and poverty.
Local authorities support food partnerships, with Sheffield City Council actively backing ShefFood. Councils possess powers for systemic change in planning, procurement, economic policy, and public health. By engaging with food partnerships, they place food at the forefront of policymaking, promoting effective, long-term solutions.
But a food partnership isn’t just about policies and strategy—it’s about people. The strength of ShefFood lies in its network of individuals and organisations working together to make Sheffield a better place to eat, grow, and access food. But, ShefFood needs more involvement. Join their working group meetings to help address key food issues with businesses and community groups. Subscribe to ShefFood’s newsletter to stay informed about local food initiatives. For organisations, signing the Sheffield Food Charter helps engage in the city’s good food movement.