13 May 2026
A new report from the Soil Association, published today, praises Bury for rapidly reshaping its local food system across 56 schools, strengthening local supply chains, increasing access to fresh and organic ingredients, and putting public health, climate action and social value at the heart of school catering.
The report comes as the government consults on proposed changes to the School Food Standards, with a stronger focus on healthier food and drink in schools, including more fruit, vegetables, wholegrains and fibre, alongside tighter limits on less healthy options.
Bury’s experience shows how these ambitions can be delivered in practice when school food is treated not simply as a catering contract, but as part of a wider local strategy for children’s health, community resilience and sustainable food.
Through its work with Soil Association programmes, Bury has achieved Food for Life Served Here Gold across 56 schools, Sustainable Food Places Silver, and Green Kitchen Standard certification. Menus now include 25% organic produce, with thousands of children benefiting from healthier, more sustainable meals each day.
Bury Council has also worked with suppliers including Organic North and Dunsters Farm to get higher-quality food onto the public plate, support regional supply chains and reduce environmental impact. One school recorded carbon savings equivalent to driving 138 miles through changes measured by Cool Food Pro’s environmental calculator.
The transformation has also delivered wider social value. Procurement changes generated a one-off £50,000 saving, which was reinvested into improving the local food system further. The approach has supported local businesses, strengthened school catering teams and helped Bury respond to challenges around food insecurity, health inequalities and childhood obesity.
Caron Longden, Head of Business Development at Soil Association Food, said:
“Working with the team at Bury has been inspiring in so many ways. At a time when the country is looking again at school food standards, Bury shows what is possible when food is put at the heart of strategy development and treated as a way to improve lives across a whole community.
“We’ve seen far-reaching food system change, moving from a fragmented catering model to a resilient, joyful approach to food across Bury, with everyone from kitchen teams to suppliers working together to change things for the better. I’m looking forward to supporting their journey, working in partnership alongside the Soil Association Food team.”
Andrew Cowan, Senior Operations Manager at Bury Catering Service, said:
“To have received national recognition for achieving Food for Life Served Here Gold and Green Kitchen Standard certification, the only council in the UK to currently have this for all our schools, along with receiving a Public Sector Catering Sustainability Award, is a ringing endorsement of all the hard work put in by the team and colleagues across our catering service.
“However, the accolade I cherish the most is seeing the joy and love of food being built in front of our eyes, when children and young people get access to healthy and delicious food when they need it the most in their lives.”
The report also follows the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ announcement that Bury, alongside four other local authorities, will receive investment to test new strategies to strengthen local procurement systems.
The funding, underpinned by the local authorities’ Gold Food for Life Served Here or Sustainable Food Place status, recognises the role that local leadership, public procurement and community partnerships can play in transforming food systems.
Amit Dattani, Director of Soil Association Food, said:
“Bury is setting a shining example of how healthy and sustainable food can bring communities together and build local resilience. Putting power into local people’s hands is proving to be a win-win-win for children’s health, local businesses and the environment.”
Read more about Bury’s food system transformation in our new report: