This follows the success of the two farm visits that the group organised last year, one of which resulted in a milk and bread tender being opened up to SMEs and a new supplier appointed.
The five farm visits are:
- Farrington & Son (arable: wheat and rapeseed), Wellingborough, Tuesday 4th April
- Moor Farm (Hereford Beef), Shrewsbury, Wednesday 26th April
- The Organic Pantry (vegetables and salads), Tadcaster, Tuesday 16th May
- Cross Lanes Organics (Beef, lamb and arable), Durham, Thursday 18th May
- Charraig Dhubh (Dexter cattle and mixed breed sheep) Northern Ireland, date tbc
Each visit will run from 11am to 3pm and involve a tour of the farm followed by a working lunch discussion with presentations from the Hospital Working Group chairs, NHS England’s Hospital Food Review Team and NHS Supply Chain. They will discuss the new dynamic procurement framework and the opportunities it offers for sourcing from SMEs.
Iain Robertson, catering operations manager at Solent NHS Trust and Kushboo Naik, senior catering dietitian at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust will chair the group together.
The Hospital Caterers Association regional branches and the British Dietetic Association are invited to encourage their members to attend. Those wanting to attend can book their place
Alexia Robinson, who runs the group as part of Love British Food’s public sector activities and who sits on the Public Sector Catering Alliance explains: “Our aim is to inspire and enable hospital catering teams across the country to source the very best British seasonal food available and produce quality, nutritious patient meals.
“There is incredible work being done by catering teams in many NHS Trusts; this group is a platform for sharing these achievements and enabling other hospital caterers to have the confidence, knowledge and support to do similar.
"Asking caterers to source British is not enough, they deserve the whole narrative and this is what the farm visits will provide. We have also learned that the relationship between catering managers and dietitians can be key to achieving quality sourcing and Kush’s appointment recognises this.
“We want Trusts to love British food all year and we encourage them to use all the national events such as Nutrition and Hydration Week, the Coronation celebrations and British Food Fortnight, 16 Sept – 1 Oct 2023 to promote British food on menus. We have all the ingredients in place for a hugely productive year ahead.”
Some of the most ‘inspirational people’ in hospital catering sit on the group, including Phil Shelley, Tim Radcliffe, Chris Neale, Duncan O Neil, Nick Vadis, Nicola Strawther and NHS Chef of the Year 2022 Shelley Pearson-Smith.
The group is seeking new members who have knowledge and experience that will inspire and enable others in the sector. Anyone wanting to join is invited to email: alexiarobinson@lovebritishfood.co.uk.