Good Food Retail councils top in Good Food Local London Report

Tracking council action on food systems change

We were delighted to see that the top four councils in the latest edition of Good Food Local - London Report are part of our GOOD FOOD RETAIL network. This further demonstrates their leadership on a whole systems approach to food. Added to this GOOD FOOD RETAIL has helped two councils, London Borough of Hounslow and Enfield, to improve their ranking since last year. 

City Hall was the venue for the Good Food Local London 2026 report launch event hosted by Sustain: The alliance for better food & farming. Rice Marketing were in attendance to represent GOOD FOOD RETAIL and to hear the views of those who attended.

Download the Report here and find the Good Food Retail overview including Impact on p34.

Progress has been made but there is more to be done

"When it comes to food, London is a hub of activity, from thriving community food growing networks and peri-urban farms, to community projects and social enterprises offering great food and social value, to chefs cooking up healthy and delicious school meals, not to mention the vibrant and diverse retail and hospitality sector. But the food resilience of our city should not be taken for granted, and structural barriers mean that just over a quarter (26%) of Londoners are living in poverty. London has great food to offer, but not everyone is able to access the food they need to thrive.

The cost of living and high food prices continues to be a challenge for Londoners, and this year we are pleased to celebrate the work councils have done to address root causes of food insecurity.

We recognise and applaud the tireless work of councils and their partners to maintain vital services addressing health inequalities, food insecurity, economy and climate concerns within tight budgets, and highlight the positive impact this hard work has for Londoners. Together, we must continue to focus time and resource on this important work, towards our shared goal of good food for all Londoners."

Joanne McCartney AM

Statutory Deputy Mayor of London

Deputy Mayor for Children and Families

Good Food Retail Overview and Impact

GOOD FOOD RETAIL Impact Statements

• The Good Food Retail network now extends to 236 shops across 11 local London authorities and 3 outside of London – Kent, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

  
  

• Stores in Hounslow increased their ranges of healthier options by nearly a third (over 29%). Local residents gave feedback that they had noticed improvements to the shops. Retailers saw the commercial value and committed to expanding their healthier product ranges. The launch event was attended by Hounslow Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Public Health and Transformation Cllr Lily Bath, and the project was communicated to residents.

• In Newham, a council officer has been trained in the Good Food Retail process, so that the Public Health team can look to sustain their network independently, supported by a toolkit.

• Bestway – the UK’s largest independent cash-and-carry wholesaler, which serves the neighbourhood food retail market – continues to embed Good Food Retail in their business and have plans to double the range by April 2026.

• Bestway launched a ‘trade week’ in 7 London depots at the end of January 2026, which promoted 8 pages of healthier options at discounts of 20% to retailers. Bestway plan to

  extend trade weeks to 24 depots in April 2026.