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The document has been created with input from the Public Sector Catering 100 Group, which includes the following national catering organisations - LACA (school meals) the National Association of Care Catering (NACC), The University Caterers Organisation (TUCO), the Hospital Caterers Association (HCA), ASSIST FM (Scottish local authority service providers) and the Professional Association of Catering Education (PACE).

Other bodies whose consultation helped shape the new guide include NHS Supply Chain, The National Farmers Union (NFU), the Federation of Wholesale Distributors (FWD), the Soil Association’s Food for Life scheme as well as buying groups such as YPO and ESPO.

Defra has a remit to improve and protect the environment, help the green economy flourish, sustain thriving rural communities and support the British food, farming and fishing industries.

The aim of its new guide is to make it easier for food and drink businesses across England to tap into growing demand for local produce and ensure that they can access the support, training and information they need to grow their businesses.

This guide aims to highlight the opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within public sector food and catering, offer advice about entering the market, and indicate where additional support can be found.

The public sector spends over £2.4bn a year on food and catering, serving 1.9bn meals. The Government has made it a priority to increase the number of food and drink SMEs supplying the public sector to help raise levels of procurement of local, sustainable, and healthier food.

Read the guide below.