The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has pledged his support to London's food businesses with the launch of a new programme.
The six-month pilot, delivered in partnership with charity the Plunkett Foundation and food network London Food Link, will focus on increasing the profitability of small to medium-sized businesses. Developed by the Mayor’s food adviser, Rosie Boycott, the pilot aims for each participating business to employ 10 or more people with jobs, training and apprenticeship opportunities during the period.
Johnson said that the trial will prove that independent food businesses can still flourish in the capital, and the pilot will be used to help the Greater London Authority boost the number of community-run food businesses.
He explained: 'From urban farms to bustling street markets, London’s food scene is one of the most diverse and exciting in the world. I am pleased to support this initiative seeking to fuse Londoners' passion for food with their entrepreneurial spirit to show that it’s possible to cook up an idea that doesn’t just result in something tasty to eat, but that gets people into our town centres, into employment and delivers wider community benefits to boot.'
London’s food sector is worth an annual sum of £17 billion, with small and medium food businesses providing the majority of the industry's 300,000 jobs. Among the fresh produce businesses taking part in the pilot are the Field to Fork Organics Co-Operative and Cultivate London.
