Criteria for inclusion on the Local Food Finder

The criteria for inclusion of food suppliers on the Local Food Finder searchable database are based on Sustain’s Seven Principles of Sustainable Food [1] and can also help food buyers and caterers to meet the standards set out in the London 2012 Food Vision. [2]

Sustain, Ethical Eats and London Food Link are also supporting promotion of local and sustainable food supplies for events and hospitality associated with the capital's hosting of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.  This work will launch in summer 2011. The Local Food Finder is one of the ways we are supporting this work, and suppliers meeting Local Food Finder criteria can help food buyers and caterers to meet the standards set out in the London 2012 Food Vision: http://www.london2012.com/documents/locog-publications/food-vision.pdf.

Note: We do not currently list retail, catering or other organisations but intend to in the future – watch this space!

If you meet the criteria set out on this page and cannot find your business listed on the Local Food Finder, please complete this form to list your business.

Local Food Finder criteria

To be added to the Local Food Finder, a business must fulfill the following criteria:

1. Size

A business must be either a Micro (fewer than 10 employees) OR a Small (fewer than 50 employees) OR Medium Enterprise (fewer than 250 employees). [3] We offer this service exclusively to smaller and medium-sized businesses, as larger businesses are able to undertake their own promotions and marketing, and because we are interested in promoting a greater diversity of food producers and food businesses.

2. Location

  • Primary and secondary producers (e.g. farmers, growers, manufacturers) must be located in a London Borough OR be located within 100 miles of the M25 [4] AND produce a product that is not widely produced in London (e.g. there are plenty of bakers in London, but only one mill - so while we would not include bakers from outside London, we would want to include flour mills).
  • Suppliers (e.g. wholesalers, distributors) must be located in a London Borough AND supply sustainable food to London businesses OR be located within 100 miles of the M25 AND supply sustainable food that is not widely available in London to London businesses.

3. Local, seasonal, sustainable

Producers and suppliers of foods that can be produced locally should mainly sell LOCAL and SEASONALLY available produce. This minimises energy used in food production, transport and storage, and promotes fresh food when it’s at its best. [5] We will list producers who use farming systems that minimise harm to the environment, such as certified organic and LEAF-Marque produce. Producers that do not have certification should list methods used and be able to show evidence to customers of environmental and ethical practices. [6]

4. Animal welfare

Preference will be given to producers whose meat, eggs and dairy products are produced to high animal welfare standards e.g. organic, free range (poultry/eggs), outdoor reared/bred (pigs), or RSPCA Freedom Food certified. [7] Producers should be able to provide evidence of certification of non-intensive farming methods or be willing to invite customers to their farms to see in person how their animals are reared.

5. Sustainable seafood

Preference will be given to suppliers who exclude seafood species identified as most 'at risk' by the Marine Conservation Society, and choose seafood only from sustainable sources - those identified as ‘fish to eat’ by the Marine Conservation Society and those certified as sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council. [8], [9] Buyers should check Marine Conservation Society listings for endangered or unsustainably caught or farmed species before buying fish from suppliers. [10], [11] We also encourage suppliers, caterers and food buyers to sign up to the campaign for London to become a Sustainable Fish City: www.sustainablefishcity.net, where they can also benefit from additional recognition and promotion.

6. Fairly traded products

Suppliers of overseas produce (e.g. coffee, tea, cocoa, chocolate, bananas, sugar) should be able to provide evidence of Fairtrade [12] or Rainforest Alliance [13] certification for at least some of their products, and preferably all or a majority. Producers that do not have certification should be able to show evidence to customers of ethical trading practices. [14]

7. Bottled water

We will not list bottled water suppliers because of the wasteful use of energy and packaging, when tap water is a very significantly less environmentally damaging option. Wholesalers that supply bottled water amongst other products should not promote bottled water via this site. [15]

Disclaimer

Sustain reserves the right:

  • in the interests of ethics and sustainability, to refuse to list a product or business if - in our opinion - the operation(s) or product(s) may undermine the aims of Sustain or its project
  • in the interests of fairness, to edit descriptive text in Local Food Finder entries to remove explicit marketing language or claims comparing products to those of other companies
  • to respond to changing circumstances, to adapt the criteria and presentation of information on the Local Food Finder website at any time 
  • in exceptional circumstances, to list businesses that are not based in London or the surrounding counties, if we think these will enhance the Local Food Finder or help to meet sustainability objectives. We will also refer suppliers to other regional databases and promotional services, to help them promote their products locally

Important note: Businesses or social enterprises listed on the Local Food Finder have not been audited by Sustain, and buyers need to check independently for proof of food safety, accreditation, certification and ethical trading practices before placing orders. Efforts have been made to ensure that only suppliers that have made a good case that they meet our ethical guidelines are listed on the Local Food Finder, but Sustain is not liable for any inaccuracies or consequences arising from false or misleading claims made by suppliers, nor misinterpretation of claims by suppliers or buyers.

References and further information

[1] Sustain’s Seven Principles of Sustainable Food: http://www.sustainweb.org/sustainablefood/

 [2] The London 2012 Food Vision (http://www.london2012.com/documents/locog-publications/food-vision.pdf) was adopted by the organisers of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, setting out health, ethical and sustainability standards for caterers serving food at the Games. Since publication of the London 2012 Food Vision, London 2012 organisers, Greater London Authority, London Food Board, Sustain, London Food Link and others have been working to promote these standards for greater uptake by the wider catering and hospitality sectors

[3] The Commission of the European Communities definition of Micro, Small and Medium Size Enterprise: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sme/facts-figures-analysis/sme-definition/index_en.htm

[4] The 100 miles figure is based on the London Farmers’ Markets definition of “food from within the region”: http://www.lfm.org.uk/policy.asp

[5] Sustain information, Eat the Seasons: http://www.sustainweb.org/sustainablefood/eat_the_seasons/

[6] Sustain information: Farming for the Planet: http://www.sustainweb.org/sustainablefood/farming_for_the_planet/

[7] Sustain information: Meat and dairy products, less is more: http://www.sustainweb.org/sustainablefood/meat_and_dairy_products_less_is_more/

[8] Sustainable Fish City: http://www.sustainablefishcity.net

[9] Information on Marine Stewardship Council’s certification scheme: http://www.msc.org/

[10] Marine Conservation Society’s Fish Online lists of ‘fish to eat’ and ‘fish to avoid’: http://www.fishonline.org/search/simple/

[11] Information for restaurants, cafés and caterers on buying sustainable seafood: http://www.goodcatch.org.uk/

[12] See the Fairtrade Foundation for details of Fairtrade principles and promotion, with information on Fairtrade certification and use of the FAIRTRADE Mark

[13] Rainforest Alliance certification: http://rainforest-alliance.org/

[14] Sustain information: Trade Fair: http://www.sustainweb.org/sustainablefood/trade_fair/ 

[15] Sustain information: Don’t Bottle It!: http://www.sustainweb.org/sustainablefood/dont_bottle_it/

 

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