Online Business Forum: Foodservice – food, in the service of people

How can foodservice flourish by putting people front and centre?

Mini Business Forum series aimed at changemakers in foodservice businesses #FoodCitizenship

Join us for the first in a mini-series on foodservice and food citizenship – empowering leaders in the foodservice sector to adopt a food citizenship mindset. We’ve decided to start with foodservice organisations because you interact directly with members of the public, but often receive less attention and support compared to major food retailers. Adopting a food citizenship mindset is about learning to meaningfully involve people as citizens, rather than just target them as consumers, as well as working collaboratively with others on collective missions (for example zero waste or net zero). By being part of this shift, foodservice companies can play a huge part in the acceleration we need towards fairer, healthier and more sustainable food systems.

This programme will unashamedly push for a shift away from consumerism by creating space for businesses to think about the challenges and opportunities involved in working more closely with people as citizens. Doing so will help attract and retain good staff, improve relationships with suppliers, make your brand more appealing to customers, and ultimately build long-term margins. Join this safe space to hear practical insights from expert speakers, exchange ideas with peers, and develop ways to meaningfully involve people in the future of your business. Together we will answer the question ‘How can involving people as food citizens help foodservice businesses to flourish in an increasingly uncertain world?’

This programme is for you if own, manage or work in a foodservice organisation and:

• You believe in the power of people 
• You want to create a food system that is resilient and fair for people, animals & planet
• You feel stuck about where to start, or how to continue, or you’re facing external challenges that are barriers to how you want to be

This is initially open only to Business Forum member organisations working in, or with, the foodservice & hospitality sector. If there are remaining spaces, we will invite other relevant organisations to participate.

Course outline (all held online)

• Workshop 1, 20th September: Explore the role of food citizenship in developing and supporting robust businesses who are making change. Join to hear from Carolyn Ball, Director for Delivery of Net Zero at Compass UK & Ireland, and Arthur Potts Dawson, chef and sustainable food innovator. We’ll then explore practical shifts and changes needed with peers (1.5 hours)
• Workshop 2, 17th October: Deeper dive into the output from workshop 1, bringing in specific examples and expertise to facilitate ways forward on key shared challenges such as rising costs and staff retention. This may include developing the business case for shifting from consumer to a food citizenship mindset in foodservice. Finishing with a short session looking ahead to workshop 3 (1.5 hours)

In between, we’ll work together online to agree what else is needed – further input from expert speakers, a co-design process for resources and tools for the future or a facilitated peer learning space.

• Workshop 3, 14th November: Content depending on the co-working process. (1.5 hours)

Discussions will be held under the Chatham House rule.