Locally Sourced Foods

Is it better to buy locally grown food? According to Food Northwest it would appear that locally sourced food and drink is a category on the rise.

Here in the Northwest the regional food sector is a significant force in the local economy. Food Northwest says provincial food is worth around £500 million to the regional economy and will continue to grow. And the sectors estimated UK market size increase by £1.3 billion, according to the most recent industry research.

From 2003 to 2007 the UK local and regional food and drink sector grew from an estimated market size of £3.7 billion to £5 billion - representing a 35 per cent growth.

A report on Just Food website valued the local food industry at £4.8 billion in 2008, driven by greater interest in provenance, ethical issues and food miles.

It went on to say that farm shops are currently the fastest growing retail channel but supermarkets are increasingly going 'local', led by Waitrose’s innovative new shop format.

The growing success of farm shops is something clearly visible in the Northwest. Earlier this year John Geldard's Plumgarth operation officially opened its new sausage manufacturing and distribution centre at Kendal Fell Business Park in Cumbria. Plumgarth's Food Service has outgrown its Crook Road, Kendal premises, because says Geldard customers are displaying an increasing interest in locally produced food (see Plumgarth Hub article.)

Close to home

The Northwest food and drink manufacturing sector is larger than any other region in the UK and the region plays a key role in supplying food and drink to the wider UK consumer base.

Retailers continue to report that they are still looking for new local suppliers of a range of food and drink products in order to expand their regional offer, in response to consumer demand. While the recession may be challenging for some premium speciality products, the study shows that there are still opportunities for genuine quality products, which can demonstrate real value to customers.

Support for local food doubles in five years

The main driver for local produce appears to be coming straight from the consumer.

The food and grocery experts, IGD, found that in January 2010 nearly a third (30%) of shoppers intentionally purchased locally produced food , double the number than in 2006.

It believes support for ethically produced foods has withstood the pressures of an 18-month recession and is in fact growing, despite the tough economic conditions.

Local producers believe more could be done to compete in international food aisles that have expanded to meet the demands of the new culturally and ethnically diverse population.

Sustain (the Alliance for Better Food and Farming has also found minimal levels of local stocking in supermarkets around the country. Looking at products such as bread, cheese, beef, mineral water and apples it found (out of 2075 products surveyed), only 79 (4%) were sourced locally. A figure that could be much higher.

IGD research illustrates shopper support not only for British farmers, but also producers in developing countries. The biggest driver over the past few years has been support for the local economy: 57% purchased local food because it has not travelled as far and is fresher, 54% supported local producers and farmers and 34% supported local retailers, meanwhile 29% wanted to keep jobs in the local area.

"These figures prove shoppers are looking for value and values. They are not simply looking for cheaper food in tough times, they also expect the grocery industry to support their moral and ethical values," said Joanne Denney-Finch, Chief Executive, IGD.

When asked what could be improved, 31% said they would like more local products available to them. And one in five (20%) wanted a farmers' market or farm shop to be established nearby.

Food security

One of the main issues going forward is food security. Food Northwest CEO, Foreman, said: "strengthening the local and regional foods sector is crucial, as it helps to build a secure regional supply chain by creating a market for primary producers and processors within the region."

And Food Northwest continues to help the industry create better links between consumers and food and encourage them to support their local producers and the economy.

As consumer reasons for buying any food become less about taste and more about ethics, evidence suggests that buying locally will be a defining characteristic of buyer trends for the foreseeable future.

Most people, it seems, are coming to realise the environmental and economic benefits of eating local, seasonal produce.

And that's good news for the Northwest where there is an abundance of edible delicacies to choose from.


Did you know?

Farm shops are currently the fastest growing retail channels.

There are currently over 2,000 farmers markets in Britain, where farmers sell a remarkable variety of their own produce direct to the public, thereby keeping food miles to the barest minimum.

Britain has lost three quarters of our orchards since the 1950s: we now import far more French and South African apples for sale at cheaper prices on our supermarket shelves.

Production of indigenous fruit such as strawberries and raspberries has decreased by 60% over the past twenty years.

FSO are a major contracting organisation operating largely in the public sector, supplying Councils, Schools and private sector food users in the North of England through a series of contracts. They are working innovatively with a number of their contractors, as one of the links in the supply chain to their customer base, to gain their support in sourcing produce locally for items included in their contracts.