Fund created for food and drink producers as Mid Suffolk sets out action plan for sector

09/07/26

A new fund has been launched to help Mid Suffolk’s small food and drink producers – ahead of councillors discussing a wider action plan to support the sector.

Mid Suffolk District Council’s £50,000 Sustainable Communities Food Fund will back community-based food and drink businesses and projects.

There will be a particular focus on community pantries and fridges, small food producers and makers, cultural venues, pubs and food banks. Funding could also help small-scale and start-up primary food producers - such as fruit and vegetable growers, bakers and artisanal producers.

The fund has been launched ahead of a new Food and Drink Action Plan being discussed by Mid Suffolk District Council’s cabinet meeting on 16 July.

Cllr Teresa Davis, Mid Suffolk cabinet member for thriving communities, said:

"Mid Suffolk is full of entrepreneurial spirit and we want to channel this in our food and drink sector. We are living in turbulent times, we are very rural here and if someone has a flair, an idea they want to pursue within this sector then we want to support them.

We have listened and we want to help strengthen our local food resilience. This new fund for small producers, direct selling initiatives and education programmes is just a start. There is more we can do and aim to do."

The Food and Drink action plan recognises the need to produce more food locally. It sets out an ambition to strengthen local production, build a resilient local food and drink network, improve food education and support the industry as a key growth sector.

It also sets out the council’s plans for a Food Summit at the Food Museum in Stowmarket on 19 October.

Cllr Davis said:

“There are challenges in our area, such as water scarcity, but also many positives – including a strong culture of home-growing, allotments and community orchards. We want to bring people together to talk about what our food and drink sector needs – and take the action needed.”

VCFSE groups can apply for grants of up to £5k from the new fund and require no match funding. Businesses applying for a grant will be required to provide 20% match funding.

A list of eligible projects and further information about the fund can be found on the community funding page on the Mid Suffolk District Council website.

Find out more about The Mid Suffolk Food and Drink Action Plan via the agenda papers for the Mid Suffolk Cabinet on the Mid Suffolk District Council website.