Food Thinkers: Leveraging school food for a local food system revolution in Bury

Speakers: Francesca Vale and Andrew Cowan, Bury Council

This Food Thinkers webinar will outline how Bury Food Partnership has transformed school food provision using a bold and effective systems-based approach. Francesca Vale and Andrew Cowan will describe the actions they implemented to reimagine Bury’s food procurement model, developing direct relationships between organic producers and local distributors, enabling cost-effective bulk purchasing and making organic food both accessible and affordable. Inspired by international best practice and partnering with Copenhagen, 25% of all food served through Bury’s school catering service is now certified organic. The webinar will describe how catering staff have also been empowered to return to preparing meals from fresh ingredients, designing menus around seasonal supplies and engaging pupils through school council taste-testing and feedback sessions. Children’s deeper connection with the food they eat and the new-found value for the vital role of catering teams in delivering their high-quality school meals will also be illustrated. Andrew and Francesca will highlight that, contrary to common assumptions that organic food is more expensive, Bury’s new purchasing framework has generated approximately £50,000 in savings. The model has also strengthened the local economy by increasing business for local suppliers and reducing the carbon footprint associated with food production and distribution. The webinar will include an opportunity to ask Francesca and Andrew questions about their experience and provide tips for those interested in applying these learnings in their own setting.

Francesca Vale is a Public Health Practitioner and registered Public Health Nutritionist at Bury Council in Greater Manchester.  Under Francesca's leadership of the Bury Food Strategy and coordination of the Bury Food Partnership, Bury's food journey has moved at a considerable pace. Through strong partnership working and trust built across the local food system, Bury progressed from achieving Sustainable Food Places Bronze Award status in 2022 to Silver status in 2024, becoming the first area in Greater Manchester to achieve this milestone. The borough is now working towards Gold status in 2026, building on achievements in healthy and sustainable school meals, community growing, local procurement, market development and polices to support healthier food environments. Together, the Bury Food Partnership is demonstrating how food can be a powerful catalyst for improving public health, supporting local businesses, reducing inequalities, building community resilience and contributing to a more sustainable future for Bury.  For further information please see: https://theburydirectory.co.uk/health-and-wellbeing/bury-food-partnership-media-articles

Andrew Cowan is the Senior Operations Manager for Bury Council’s School Catering Service. Andrew is a Soil Association Ambassador and is the North West Board representative for The School Food People.  With over 20 years of experience in the private catering sector, Andrew has a proven track record of ensuring high-quality, nutritious meals while maintaining efficient and cost-effective operations.  Andrew fosters a positive and collaborative work environment. He is dedicated to professional development and regularly attends industry conferences and training sessions to stay updated on the latest trends and best practices. Andrew implements sustainability initiatives, such as reducing food waste and sourcing local ingredients through procurement, to support the local community and environment.