Opening up the menu to local food

The South West of England Regional Development Agency (RDA) is leading the way in unlocking the huge market for food and drink products in the public sector with the appointment of the area's first dedicated public procurement manager.

Andy Berry will work with both producers and buyers to get high quality nutritious local food on the menus of schools, hospitals, prisons, local authorities, universities and emergency services across South West England.

Mike Johns, South West RDA Food and Enterprise Manager, said:

"The public sector provides a potentially huge market for local food producers in the South West. If regional organisations can buy locally it also cuts down on the number of 'food miles' that produce has to travel to reach its consumer, which is better for the environment and more sustainable in the longer-term.

"However, it is difficult for new businesses to break into the market and the public sector finds it hard to identify suppliers that are able to meet their stringent processes. This can make the procedure of tendering a costly and daunting one for small producers. Andy's appointment will help companies to negotiate the process and limit their costs."

From 3 April, Andy will work through South West Food and Drink, the regional strategic organisation for the food and drink industry, to identify any gaps in the provision of food and drink to the public sector. Working in close partnership with organisations such as Taste of the West, Andy's role will include promoting local food to buyers through face-to-face meetings and events such as school visits to farms where they can receive talks and demonstrations from local producers. He will also be setting up a new website listing the public sector contracts available so that suppliers can identify products which they may be able to provide.

Andy, 30, said: "There seems to be a shift in attitudes within the public sector. New staff are coming on board and recognising that people want to eat fresh, locally-produced food which benefits the environment and supports their local producers. We are re-connecting with consumers, and buyers are beginning to listen. At recent events there has been real passion and enthusiasm among suppliers to supply to the public sector. Now we need to focus on getting the message across to buyers."

The appointment forms part of the South West RDA's £1.6 million investment in projects to support regional food and drink producers, part of its £20 million commitment to the rural economy this year.

A large part of this work will help local producers to break through and get their products onto supermarket shelves and restaurant menus in the region. The Waitrose Development Programme, delivered through Taste of the West, which represents 300 producers in the region, will put small, "niche" food and drink producers directly in touch with buyers from the supermarket chain - potentially unlocking lucrative new markets.

The initiative will build on the successful South West Food & Drink Supplier Development Programme, which will continue into 2006. Last year, 23 businesses in the region increased their collective turnover by over £1.5 million with help from the programme.

Other projects supported by the South West RDA will help food and drink businesses to improve their skills and performance through new business support services and to develop wider markets through exhibitions such as the Food and Drink Expo and the Exeter Festival.