Improving standards of catering for the public sector would benefit everyone from schoolchildren, to food buyers and domestic farmers and growers, according to speakers at a National Food Suppliers conference.

In his introduction to the Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative (PSFPI), Lord Whitty, minister for food, farming and sustainable energy, told delegates the key to having an efficient and competitive industry was "reconnecting" at every stage of the supply chain.

Whitty spoke of reconnecting the food and farming industry with the market and rest of the food chain, the food chain with the countryside, and consumers with food and methods of production.

A key aim of the initiative would be to encourage the development of farmer-controlled businesses (FCBs) to help focus producers on the importance of producing for the market.

He said: "We want to increase the opportunities for domestic farmers, growers and producers to compete to supply food to the public sector."

Whitty said many small suppliers would struggle to meet requirements outlined by the major catering companies. But the initiative would work with catering contractors to restructure contracts in order to accommodate local suppliers, he claimed.

He urged small suppliers to "try and try again" to secure contracts and alternatively investigate direct supply routes to individual institutions operating smaller contracts.

Sarah Gray, technical manager for catering company, Compass, added that catering could provide a good outlet for produce not meeting the quality specifications for retail, such as "crooked cucumbers".

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