About Us
Localfoodshop is has been developed by f3 with funding from the Welsh Assembly Government. A working partnership with BigBarn has been established which has enabled the initiative to get bigger, quicker.
The company is based on ethical business principles and is modelled on a Community Interest Company constitution, so is effectively set up for the benefit of the producer community.
Who's behind it?f3 provides specialist research and consultancy services to organisations and enterprises involved in local and sustainable food initiatives. Work includes strategic planning, research, feasibility studies and business planning, training for producers and support organisations, and the facilitation of collaborative approaches. f3 is a not for profit, co-operative Community Interest Company, with members comprising leading experts with UK and international experience in the field of sustainable food and farming, and enterprise support. f3 has been established since 1999 and has carried out more than 140 projects in this field.
BigBarn is primarily a website company with a mission to reconnect local producers and consumers and encourage trade. BigBarn has been trading for 7 years and is now 'the leading local produce website' (Daily Telegraph Feb 07) with over 7,500 local producers listed as icons on maps accessed by typing in a postcode. BigBarn has followed a strategy of working with like minded organisations and shares its mapping technology with many other sites to allow the map and content to open within those sites.
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The management teamSimon Michaels the director of f3, with skills in business development and local marketing for micro and SME food enterprises. He is also a partner of a micro bakery, and a director of RCMA Social Enterprise Ltd which runs the farmers' market in Cardiff and other food and health projects.
Anthony Davison is a 5th generation farmer, has an MBA and is the founder of BigBarn. He will retain his directorships of BigBarn & the family farming business.
Helen Thornton provides marketing and PR advice for many small companies, especially in the specialist food sector.
Kathy Merrett is an f3 consultant with a focus on marketing and supply chain management. She has former experience as a product manager and buyer for two supermarkets, and business development manager for the Regional Food Group for Yorkshire & Humber.
Ed Haigh is the operations director and highly experienced in digital media following 7 years with Sony's digital media section.
Matt Macleod is BigBarn's technology director, the creator of the BigBarn website and takes care of new website development for Localfoodshop.
Amanda-Jane Woodland is an f3 consultant with expertise in administration and accounting systems for food sector businesses.