The role of independent food retailers, markets and community food initiatives in local centres

What we eat and how we purchase food are two key policy agendas in the modern day United Kingdom. The continued rise of poor health and in particular obesity has seen numerous high profile campaigns that have sought to improve the health of the nation and improve decision making around the purchase of food. Manchester City Council thus commissioned the Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES) in Autumn 2007 to undertake a research project which would enable a greater understanding of the role Independent Food Retailers, Markets and Community Food Retailers currently play in supporting the sustainability of local centres and neighbourhoods within the city.