With a few months to go until this year’s British Food Fortnight (running from September 26th to October 12th), the momentum behind the Love British Food campaign continues to gather pace - especially across the public sector.
From NHS hospitals and care homes to school kitchens and university campuses, more and more caterers across the UK are signing up to put more local food on their menus.
Love British Food is the UK’s leading national campaign championing British food and farming. Founded by Alexia Robinson, the campaign has grown from a grassroots movement into a multi-sector umbrella coalition advocating for shorter supply chains, seasonal eating, and homegrown produce.
Its flagship initiative is British Food Fortnight, which has now become a firmly established event in the national calendar.
Each autumn, thousands of organisations – from retailers, schools, hospitals, caterers, and community groups - get involved in celebrating the value of British food.
But beyond the two-week festival, Love British Food is a year-round campaign, particularly in the public sector, where its work is helping caterers meet both their practical needs and policy aspirations.
Working Groups
To extend and deepen its impact, Love British Food has developed a series of sector-specific Working Groups, each led by professionals at the frontline of catering.
The Education Working Group is focused on building awareness and action across school and university food services. From lesson-linked menus to sourcing policies and student engagement, the group is creating practical ways for putting British food on school plates.
Meanwhile, the Hospital and Care Catering Working Group is helping public sector caterers shift their procurement towards local, seasonal, and ethically sourced produce.
It is aiming to forge a UK-wide consensus by stimulating a conversation about the future of hospital and care catering, spread across all four nations.
The working groups form a knowledge sharing community, giving leaders in the industry a platform to share their expertise in sourcing nutritious food and give advice and inspiration to others.
The collection of case studies that the groups have produced are a testament to the tremendous work being done in catering teams around the country.
Farm Visits
One of the most impactful elements of the campaign has been the Love British Food Farm Visits programme. So far, 196 change makers from 43 hospitals and 36 NHS Trusts have taken part in hands-on visits to British farms, gaining direct insight into commitment behind British produce.
Plans are now in place to expand the scheme to further strengthening the link between food buyers and food growers.
Collaborative Campaigning
Partnerships are at the heart of Love British Food’s success. The campaign is currently working closely with Food for Life, combining its procurement expertise with Food for Life’s educational and policy frameworks to deliver better joint outcomes in schools and hospitals.
Love British Food has also partnered with No Farmers No Food, a public-facing initiative that champions the urgent need for shorter, fairer supply chains.
Together, the two campaigns are advocating for more British food in public procurement - a message that makes sense the whole length of the food chain.
The Love British Food Pledge
A major development for 2025 is the launch of the Love British Food Pledge - a public commitment open to individuals, organisations, and companies who want to demonstrate their support for British food and farming.
The Pledge was unveiled at the TUCO Competitions Event in April, with further action planned at the LACA Main Event, NACC Conference, and HCA Forum.
It offers an opportunity for the industry to ‘stand up and be counted’. By signing the pledge, organisations are visibly showing their values, and joining a growing movement that is working for change.
A Growing Coalition
Love British Food says it is proud to work alongside a wide array of industry bodies and professional associations, including:
- LACA
- TUCO
- NACC
- HCA
- Craft Guild of Chefs
- Sustainable Restaurant Association
- British Culinary Federation
The campaign is also backed by a number of strategic partners, including:
- Brakes
- Fresh Direct