Good Food Local: The London report 2026

Food connects community health, economic resilience, climate goals, and tackling inequality. Most councils know this, but food work is often fragmented across departments, under-resourced, and difficult to prioritise.

Good Food Local is a national programme led by Sustain that gives councils a practical framework for improving their local food system, helping them prioritise effort and make meaningful and measurable progress.

In our 2026 Overall and Beyond the Food Bank league tables and series of good food maps, we shine a light on each council's approach to food partnerships, household food insecurity and the wider food system.

Sustain • Good Food Local

London in numbers

2.3 million tonnes of food is wasted every year across London’s food supply chain with a cash value of more than £2.5 billion.

26% of Londoners are living in poverty.

442,430 emergency food parcels were distributed in 2025 by Trussell food banks in London.

100 million free school meals have been funded by the Mayor of London in state primary schools.

There are over 2000 community gardens, orchards and farms across London.

5 councils have signed the London Food Purchasing Commitment.

10 boroughs have a Healthier Food Advertising Policy implemented.

What does the report cover?

The Good Food Local measures align with the Sustainable Food Places’ six key themes as detailed below. In addition, councils are asked how work on ethnic and cultural diversity in the food system is embedded across all themes in the report, based on the Sustainable Food Places six key themes.

Food governance and strategy - looks at council action on taking a joined-up approach to food through food partnerships, policy and strategies.
Food growing and community food action - assesses council action to support more people to grow their own food, increase land available for growing, as well as build a local good food movement and platform community voices.
Healthy food for all: addressing food poverty - reviews council action to address food poverty looking ‘Beyond the Food Bank’, with a focus on addressing the root causes of poverty and increasing dignified access to good food.
Healthy food for all: Healthier food environments - from schools, workplaces and communities to catering, high streets and advertising hoardings, our measures of a healthier food environment encompass areas that affect the lives and health of local communities.
Sustainable food economy - reviews how councils are joining up work on improving the local economy and regeneration, with the availability of affordable, healthy and sustainable food including any work undertaken under the Good Food Retail agenda.
Catering and procurement - assesses one of the key areas where councils can act to reduce food-related emissions and promote climate and nature-friendly food while supporting local economies.
Food for the Planet – looks at commitments and actions taken on food to mitigate the climate and nature emergency.

What is Good Food Local?

We’ve been working in London for 15 years to develop the programme, providing a practical framework of actions to help councils gain a structured assessment of where they are now, clear recommendations on next steps, connections with other councils doing the same work, and a growing body of case studies, peer learning and good practice to draw upon.

How does the report help councils take action?

Food matters to councils – but it is hard to get right.

The report is a valuable framework to support councils and partners to identify where to take action on critical food issues that affect the food system as a whole.

By illustrating clearly where councils are making progress, and areas that might need more capacity and resource, this report helps councils make the case to continue to take action on food.

It also includes case studies to share good practice and a league table to celebrate achievements and measure progress year on year to give a wider view of advances and trends in food work.

Survey approach

As in previous years, Sustain designed a survey to collect the information used and scored in this report, based on our decades of close work with councils on food issues. We consulted with councils and based on feedback sought to make the survey shorter, more streamlined and up to date with current good practice. Input from Sustain programme leads and external expert partners were used to shape criteria. In September 2025, all councils in London were invited to complete the survey and to self-report on action taken as well as future plans. Where available, data from external sources has been included for councils that did not respond to our survey, and used to verify responses more broadly.

The scoring and maps show four levels of action based on survey responses: no action, foundations, good practice and leadership. For some measures, we identified actions which indicate a council’s progress level; for some measures, it was the total number of actions taken that was used to determine the level.

The league tables provide an overview of council performance in each theme (indicated by colours), how they ranked comparatively (indicated by order and percentage score), with an indication of councils who achieved overall leadership, being the six highest scores.

Case studies

Celebrating the good work taking place across the capital is an important part of this report. We have worked with several councils to put together inspiring case studies to showcase the innovative work they are doing to help residents to access healthy, affordable and sustainable food, and inspire other councils about what is possible and how this can be implemented locally.

All case studies

How can your region benefit?

Having established Good Food Local in our second region in the North East of England, we have seen important benefits to taking a regional approach to food systems work. This includes supporting a region to build cross council relationships, develop a shared understanding of opportunities and challenges, as well as reinforcing the significance of place based food work across a region amongst others. If you would like to explore what support could be available to your region or local authority, please contact goodfoodlocal@sustainweb.org.

Could your region be next?

What’s happening in each borough?

Get updates

Overall league table
Which councils are showing leadership on joined-up action?

Beyond the Food Bank
Which councils are leading the way in addressing food poverty?

Good food maps
Explore the Good Food Local London data in detail.

Recommendations for action

Food governance and strategy

Support the development of a food partnership and food strategy covering the six key issues in the Sustainable Food Places (SFP) framework.

Food growing and other community food action

Appoint a dedicated Food Growing Officer, work collaboratively with local groups to identify and map suitable land for growing, and establish a clear process for residents to request and access land for cultivation.

Ensure good food initiatives are celebrated across the council’s communications channels and through events and projects, and where possible provide micro-grants to community groups, utilising the Sustainable Food Places Good Food Movement framework.

Sustainable food economy

Ensure borough wide Food Strategies include plans to expand local production, processing, distribution and retailing to support the local economy and ensure healthy, sustainable and locally produced food is more accessible.

Catering and procurement

Sign the London Food Purchasing Commitment and join the working group of London councils to ensure food purchased and sold across council services is healthy and climate friendly.

Food for the Planet

Include timebound, specific and measurable targets on food in climate and nature strategies and assign capacity to act on these commitments. Join Food for the Planet to gain access to our suite of recommended policies and the potential emission reductions for each.

Overall league table

Healthy Food for All (including food poverty and health related actions)

Strengthen and embed accessible cash-first crisis support schemes and financial resilience-building services, in line with the new Crisis and Resilience Fund. This can include wraparound services co-located with community food projects including advice and support to maximise income at the earliest opportunity.

Develop an action plan based on local needs to increase uptake of Healthy Start cards and vitamins, including training for frontline staff, targeted outreach using postcode-specific data, and working with local retailers to promote the scheme.

Urgently review food provision for people seeking asylum, particularly with regards to food safety standards and infant feeding and bring together relevant council teams and local partners to improve access to food and kitchens.

Resource nutritious meal provision inside and outside of the home for older and disabled residents who need it. Ensure strong referral pathways into services, and that staff have the right skills and knowledge to support people to prepare and eat meals.

Support and resource development of community-led and culturally relevant food projects which go beyond charitable food provision towards self-organising, financial sustainability and empowering communities.

Assign resource to develop a healthier food advertising policy for the council following Sustain’s good practice guidance.

Use planning strategies to manage new hot food takeaways.

Beyond the Food Bank league table

The results table is best viewed on larger devices.

This report is coordinated by the Good Food Local and London Food Poverty teams at Sustain, to celebrate and encourage action by councils in London on good food issues, spanning policy areas which sit under several council departments.

We are grateful to the GLA, Trust for London and Impact on Urban Health for providing the funding that makes this work possible.

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