May 2016 - Good Food in Greenwich

Free Food Business Training starting in Greenwich this April

Do you want to run your own business, but need some help getting started?
Do you have a passion for a winning food idea?
Would you like to access support to kick start your business?

If you answered ‘YES!’ to these questions, then this opportunity is perfect for you.

As part of Good Food in Greenwich, GCDA, supported by Royal Borough of Greenwich, is offering a FREE 10-week Food Business Training course with loads of support, help and advice from experts in the field.

When? The course will run every Wednesday from 26th April until the 5th July (break on 31st May)

What time? 10am – 1pm

Where? Greenwich West Community Centre

What we’ll cover:

You and your idea, feasibilities, aims and objectives
Legislation – all the legal bits you’ll need
Health and Sustainability – how to capitalise on these themes to maximise your profits
Product Development – refining and adapting to make sure you have the best product possible
Sector specific issues – logistics, production, trading opportunities and more
Finance – how to price your product properly
Promotions and branding – how to sell yourself and your business
Business planning – complete a comprehensive business plan

As people become more aware of their food and where it comes from, they are looking for new and exciting food businesses to buy from. Completing this course will result in supported opportunities to trade around the borough, and ongoing mentoring from experts in the field.

If you’re interested and would like more information, then contact Mel Taylor on mel@gcda.org.uk or call 0208 2694880

You can download an application form here and course outline here

Good Food in Greenwich has been working in partnership with the Healthier Catering Commitment to get more businesses signed up to the charter.

GCDA, working with Environmental Health, has been traveling the eateries of Greenwich to entice businesses to sign up to the Healthier Catering Commitment (HCC). The HCC is a voluntary scheme that recognises food outlets which offer healthier food options, and that make simple and affordable changes to the food they sell to make it better for their customers.

When a food business signs up to the scheme, it commits to improving the food they sell by making small changes, such as:

changing the oil they cook with to healthier alternatives
offering some healthy options (for example, lower sugar drinks and snacks); and
making smaller portions available on request

In the last few months, when visiting businesses with HCC, we have been talking to them about the broader work of Good FiG, which has met with real enthusiasm for the project. In fact, since January she has signed up 9 new businesses who have made a range of commitments to the charter to help raise awareness and promote Good Food in the borough.

We’re very proud to welcome the following businesses and their incredible pledges!

Foodies Greenwich
- Pledge to support local and community food – a long time supporter of Good FiG already!
Griller Plumstead
- To provide ‘fried’ chicken without the frying – a fantastic alternative to the traditional fried chicken, these guys are over roasting the chicken without losing that fried chicken taste
Avery Hill Park
- Offering a free cup of tea to any mother who breast feeds in their café! Fantastic news and great to hear about this sort of support out there
New Leaf Community Centre
- To serve fresh, healthy food and cakes with reduced sugar – a great way to impact on our sugar consumption!
Ziyafet Turkish Cuisine
- They are reducing the salt in their food, and offering salad on the house to all customers. A great way to promote the 5 a day message!
Kim’s Fish and Chip Shop – Plumstead
- Offering a healthy meal deal including water and offer smaller portions to customers. Smaller portion are a great way to help people reduce their energy intake, and also help prevent food waste! great idea
The Golden Chippy – Greenwich High Road
- Using rapeseed oil to fry their food – a healthier option with lower trans fats – it all helps!
Age Exchange Blackheath
- They aim to offer a primarily healthy and wholesome menu to all their customers – what more could we want?
Bistro at the Greenwich Carers’ Centre
- To reduce the salt in their food and offer a healthy menu – more great support for people to eat more healthily

These forward thinking businesses have made pledges to support Good Food in Greenwich and will have received a charter to sign and display in their cafes. So visit them and show them your support!

What can I do?

We can all support Good FiG by asking cafes to sign a pledge with us! Next time you’re out, ask your local café to check out our website and get in touch so we can support them to make a pledge that will make a difference to the food in Greenwich, and will help them get new customers and can even help save money!