It aims to enable the SME to look in more detail at its own supply chain impacts and decide which considerations matter most to their business and are therefore useful to measure. It makes some suggestions as to what might be measured and how, though the main purpose is to stimulate the SME to decide for itself what the most useful measures would be.

There are three main areas of analysis, all of them based on the perceived benefits of short supply chains and directly related to the efficiency and impacts of short food supply chains:

• logistics efficiency and sustainability (activities relating to reducing transportation costs and impacts, improving fuel efficiency and waste management)
• involvement in the local economy (farm or business contribution to building a vibrant local economy through cooperation with other local businesses, attention to local employment and food chain localisation, and other form of economic engagement at the local level)
• relationship with local community (farm or business engagement with local people and other activities that contributes to strengthen a vibrant local community, beyond economic impacts).

See introduction to WP5 Summary of tools in SupurbFood project

The work of Growing Opportunities  which has led the projects, was part funded by the Primary Care Trust and now the local Council. However, current pressures on public funding have meant that core funding  has come under serious review.

This study was commissioned with a view to reviewing impact to date, and identifying the options the Council has in supporting community food programmes. In carrying out this work the consultants were asked to consider the effect of a reduction, perhaps to zero, in core funding for Growing Opportunities from the Council; or if funding is to continue, how it can be shown to be effective and good value for money in delivering local priorities in terms of public health and well-being.

The study has considered the potential future of community based growing in Sandwell in the round, and noted its potential as a vehicle for creating diverse benefits including employment and skills development, enterprise and job creation, urban land regeneration, public health and wider health outcomes.

See Sandwell Options Appraisal summary 

Over the years, f3 has developed a number of effective market research tools. Most are now held in an online format, although phone based surveys can feed into this.  The online format enables data analysis, to provide intelligent reporting on market and supply chain issues.  The tools include:

• producer surveys – identifying what is being produced in a defined area, supply chain issues, and how local businesses hope to develop including approaches to collaboration
• distribution surveys – exploring existing distribution infrastructure, and opportunities for new collaborative systems
• retail and hospitality surveys – exploring the demand for local and sustainable food, the specific needs and issues for buyers, and how short supply chain links can be established
• consumer surveys – helping identify what local consumers are really looking for, and what they will do in practice (which can be different!), and how to establish more direct trading with local producers
• waste surveys – identifying what happens to waste in production, in the supply chain, and post consumer, and how this can be minimised or recycled