Towards a (new)
Sheffield Food Strategy
Cllr Jack Scott
Cabinet Lead for Food and Environment
Sheffield Food strategy Consultation Event
November 6th 2013 City Hall
Why do we want to refresh our
Sheffield Food Strategy now?
Things are changing fast in our communities …
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Food Poverty – appearance of Food Banks in our city
People are struggling with cuts to social security
High numbers of people who are overweight or obese
The 2011 Food Plan was very wide ranging
We don’t have the same resources available as in the
past (C4L) and cuts in public sector funding
• We have the right leadership structures in place
• Fairness Commission
Sheffield’s Food Strengths
• In 2011, a total of 12,574 people were employed in
food related industry in Sheffield including training –
Low? High?
• 244,000 visitors attended the Food Festival this year
– growth year on year
• The Moor Market - 200 Stalls. 55% food
• School Food has improved
• We have many creative people working in small food
businesses and a range of community and voluntary
sector projects
Sheffield’s Food Weaknesses
• Over 30,000 people in Sheffield are malnourished
• It is estimated that approximately 40,000 people in
Sheffield are currently experiencing food poverty
(Trussell Trust)
• 58% of Sheffield’s population aged 15+ (271,324
people) is estimated to be overweight or obese
• Direct cost of treating obesity and its consequences in
Sheffield is approximately £11.5 million annually
• Estimated that the average household in Sheffield
wastes £50 of food / month
• We have 16 food banks and growing …
A New Food Strategy
Our Vision
1. Environmental sustainability
2. Improved health and wellbeing
3. A strong economy
What this really means …
1. Everyone can access, a diverse offer of food that is
safe, nutritious & benefits their health
2. We don’t waste food
3. Food plays a key role in strengthening our economy
4. Our local food system is sustainable and the
environmental impact of our food production,
processing, retail and consumption is minimised
5. Our public sector bodies lead by example through
regulation, and sustainable
Priorities proposed in the
strategy next 2 years
1. Tackle Food Poverty in Sheffield
2. To improve the food offer - implement the ‘Takeaways
Toolkit’ in Sheffield
3. Establish a Healthy Eating Campaign & Support
Communities to Grow their own Food
4. Boost the role food plays in the local economy
5. Establish an independent Sheffield Food Trust
Progress to Date
• New Food Executive Group set up that reports to the
Food & Physical Activity Board and we have begun to
draft a strategy
• We have spoken to some Elected Members
• We spoke to 90 people at the Sheffield Food Festival
September 2013
• A questionnaire is to be widely circulated after we do
some more work on the strategy after today
• The Food Bank Network are already working to look
at tackling food poverty
Key Contacts
For making sure things happen!
• Cllr Jack Scott Cabinet Lead for Food and Environment
• Jack.Scott@Sheffield.gov.uk / Mobile: 07875 014281
•Dr Jeremy Wight Director of Public Health
•Jessica Wilson Health Improvement Principal
•Jessica.wilson@sheffield.gcsx.gov.uk
•Jill Lancaster Health Improvement Practitioner
•Jill.lancaster@sheffield.gcsx.gov.uk
•Graham Moore (Chair Food & Physical Activity Board)