We’re supporting local food businesses to make small changes that will increase their customer base, include healthier and climate-friendly options and reduce their waste. Businesses demonstrating good practice can join our Food Enterprise Network, giving them priority access to new trading opportunities.
Meet the CEO at Sacoma Global Foods Innovation
Perez Ochieng is an award-winning Global Women Inventors and Innovators and Business Woman of the Year, and UK-Commonwealth Export 1st Champion. She has a proven track record in the food industry, from importing African agricultural raw materials to industrial production in the EU, and now championing Nez Zero and Smart decarbonisation in the UK and Asia. She has spent over 30 years researching and developing how to create a sustainable system for producing and trading in health and wellbeing products. This work has influenced how she runs the Sacoma Shop in Barking and Dagenham.
Shared vision and actions across the Charter priorities
As the first business to join our Food Enterprise Network, Sacoma demonstrates how food enterprises can address multiple challenges linked to the food system, including health, inclusion, sustainability and food waste.
‘Sacoma Shop in Barking and Dagenham is not just an isolated food retail business, but is a part of an ecosystem of a very innovative business model’, says Perez.
Read more about how Sacoma is improving the local food offer by demonstrating good practice in many areas :
Sustainable produce The products sold in Sacoma’s shop are carefully selected on the sustainability of their farming and production, and their social impact.
Diversity and access Sacoma runs a health and well-being programme, including training local food entrepreneurs in green skills for new food product development and sustainable food processing, making these skills accessible to people from all diverse groups.
Community health Sacoma champions healthy eating and wellbeing, and its health food shop is the first in the borough to offer organic, healthy and sustainable foods.
Reducing waste Sacoma is working on the development of clean renewable energy by converting retail food waste into upcycled protein and hydrogen. It contributes to research and is committed to reducing waste to decrease the impact it has on people and planet.
If you are inspired by these actions and want to get support on how you can start making small changes, read our Good Food Enterprise Charter. It has tips and links on actions you can take to improve your supply chains, connect with your customers and reduce your food waste.
If you’re already taking action across these themes, you may be eligible to join our Food Enterprise Network. Apply online.
You can also contact the team with any questions: goodfood@lbbd.gov.uk
