Sustainable food procurement initiative - South Gloucester Schools
Case Study: South Gloucestershire schoolsRegion: South West
Organisation: Local Authority
Description: Kay Knight who manages South Gloucestershire County Council Catering and Contract Services supplies all of the Councils 120 schools with a catering service. She has achieved her aim of increasing the amount of locally produced food used in the catering service. A great deal of time has been spent developing contacts with local producers including farm visits. As a result locally grown potatoes, vegetables and organic apples are used in the menus together with local meat, burgers and sausages and eggs. Kay is an experienced purchasing professional and her skills in procurement, contract management and the autonomy allowed her and exercised by her in decision making have contributed greatly to the success of her contractual relationships with her suppliers. Schools lunches have proved their popularity by doubling in turnover. In the last few months a breakfast service has been introduced in 20 primary schools. The provision of local food has extended to include a basket service allowing school staff to purchase local food for private consumption. The school tuck shop offers chopped fruit pieces using 2nd grade produce which is either too small or too large for supermarkets.
Benefits:
- Pupils in South Gloucestershire schools are eating food which is as fresh as possible·
- Local suppliers have come up with competitive prices
- A unique marketing tool has been developed which benefits the pupils
- Catering skills have been enhanced with the need to produce more meals from raw ingredients with a resultant increase in staff motivation and reduction in staff turnover
Lesson learned during implementation:
- Additional time is needed to work with and develop local suppliers
- Support not always forthcoming from schools as food is low on schools' list of priorities
- Experience in purchasing and procurement is invaluable
- "Goodwill - fade" has to be dealt with; an increasing demand on time in addition to the rigours of the day job when you are a successful case study
Future Developments: Continued work with schools to raise the profile of healthy eating and its links with the reduction in obesity in children in liaison with the local Health Promotion Service. In 2003 there will be a designated special day in each school where pupils, staff and parents will be able to learn about the importance of healthy, local food and its benefits to children's health and to the locality Work continues to be done around the use of local foods in pre-prepared food which local farmers are not interested in.
Further information:
Page published: 1 May 2003