Good Food Retail: London boroughs taking action

Originally published in 2019, this report has been updated in August 2021 with new case studies.

During 2019 and 2020 eleven councils in London undertook projects to improve Good Food Retail in their boroughs, ten with funding from the Mayor of London, one with funding from Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity, and all supported by London Food Link as a partner.

Each approach has been unique to the local context, with councils focusing on one or more of the following objectives:

• Improving access to heathy, affordable food in convenience stores;
• Increasing the take up of Healthy Start vouchers among local retailers and families;
• Increasing healthier food options available at markets;
• Developing a strategic plan to influence and lead the Good Food Retail agenda across a borough.

In this report we outline what’s been achieved to date, the challenges and learnings of different approaches and case studies of the boroughs' work.

Contents

• Key themes and learning
• What is Good Food Retail?
• Getting a Healthy Start in Bexley
• Connecting with the VCS to increase Healthy Start uptake in Haringey
• Healthier convenience stores in Camden
• Good Food Retail convenience store pilot in Greenwich
• Good food in the marketplace and beyond in Croydon
• Food access mapping and healthy food in stores and markets in Kingston
• Developing a Good Food Retail Plan for Newham
• Change4Life training toolkit in Kensington and Chelsea
• Addressing food insecurity in Southwark