Nourishing Norfolk Food Supply
Inviting Expressions of Interest
Summary:
Nourishing Norfolk is entering an important new phase for community led food supply in the county. We are inviting Expressions of Interest from organisations with the vision to lead and develop the food sourcing, warehouse and distribution function as a charitable enterprise. The future provider will build on existing strong foundations, including twenty five community owned food hubs, an established warehouse and trusted buying and logistics partners. They will look to drive down prices of the current ambient food offer, strengthening affordability. They will also identify opportunities to extend the range to include fresh and chilled foods, and to extend provision beyond the existing Nourishing Norfolk Network to other community food organisations in Norfolk.
1. Overview
The Story So Far
Nourishing Norfolk was created to give people in our communities access to good quality, affordable food, close to home. Building on local partnerships and from a pilot project in Thetford in 2020, this innovative programme has grown into a network of twenty five community-owned food hubs, supported with funding and practical coordination from Norfolk Community Foundation. Since then, over 44,000 people in Norfolk have accessed food and support through the programme.
In 2022 the Foundation established a central warehouse. This was in response to hubs struggling to source food reliably and affordably. First piloted at The Norfolk Showground with the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association, centralised warehouse and distribution was then developed with partner Norse Group. We now provide 100 ambient product lines, shaped by what our community partners tell us they need. We deliver these goods weekly to the network of hubs via Norse’s existing logistics.
The impact of this centralised warehouse has been to strengthen the food offer available to communities. Independent evaluation by University of East Anglia shows it underpins the wider support hubs provide, helping to reduce financial pressure, improve health and wellbeing, and strengthen community connections.
The Nourishing Norfolk model as a whole delivers significant social value for every pound invested (£1 unlocks £6.54), and delivers a coordinated response which is preventing crisis and worsening health outcomes and inequalities across the county. The innovation and learning from this programme is now leading nationally, informing best practice across the UK.
Next Steps
As the programme has evolved and cost-of-living pressures have intensified, local organisations have expressed the need for lower prices and a broader offer of reliable, affordable food. The next step will therefore involve development of stronger centralised bulk purchasing and access to fresh and chilled food. Meeting this need will require new, focused leadership and expertise.
Norfolk Community Foundation is therefore inviting Expressions of Interest from a partner, or group of partners, to take leadership and own the food sourcing, warehouse and distribution function as a separate charitable enterprise.
We invite organisations to show how they would further develop the trusted partnerships, community relationships and service, while shaping the next horizon for food supply in Norfolk. This can include how the existing provision can be extended to community food organisations beyond the current Nourishing Norfolk network, and beyond ambient food distribution.
Central to the Vision
Consultation with the Nourishing Norfolk Network shows strong support for the Distribution Hub and a clear picture of what is needed for the future: a dependable, responsive service that reflects what communities really want and need, increased access to fresh and chilled food, and an offer that helps groups manage rising costs and plan for long-term sustainability.
Alongside a strong community focus, the future provider will need commercial awareness, sound governance and confident financial oversight. A successful model will combine business discipline with a community-led approach.
2. Eligibility
Norfolk Community Foundation welcomes Expressions of Interest from charities and formally constituted voluntary, community or social enterprise organisations. Our Standard Eligibility Criteria will apply and governance checks will be completed as part of the process.
3. Support from Norfolk Community Foundation & Partners
This is a chance to build on a strong foundation and open a new chapter for community‑led food supply in Norfolk. To help the future provider move with confidence and ambition, Norfolk Community Foundation will provide:
Catalyst Funding – A total of £300,000 in grant funding, awarded in staged payments according to a co-created fund agreement, to give early stability and create space to innovate.
Experienced People – The current warehouse team will join the new organisation, bringing trusted relationships and practical operational expertise. This will be achieved through TUPE to the new provider.
Buying Expertise – Access to specialist food‑purchasing support and national supply links through partner Ankosé CIC, to strengthen value, widen the range and unlock opportunities around fresh and chilled.
Reliable Infrastructure – Our established warehouse and logistics partner Norse Group will continue to host the warehouse and deliver orders, ensuring dependable service while the offer develops. Currently this consists of 72 dedicated standard pallet spaces for long-life and dry packed goods, and weekly delivery to up to 25 locations. It is expected that the future provider will agree a new Memorandum of Understanding and Working Agreement with Norse Group.
Connections and Convening – Norfolk Community Foundation will open doors to partners, donors and networks across the county and beyond, helping the new provider build the alliances it needs for long‑term success. Our long-standing partners Feeding Britain and the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association will likewise provide ongoing advice and support to the new provider.
4. Requirements
The successful future provider will need to demonstrate a balance of operational strength, community connection and commercial discipline. We invite applicants to indicate which capabilities already exist within their organisation and which would be developed or brought in through partnership.
Please note that the existing operational team brings many of the technical skills already.
Capability |
This means… |
| Food sourcing & supplier relationships | Securing good‑value food, including opportunities to widen the existing ambient food offer. |
| Logistics & warehouse operations | Running a safe, efficient and reliable warehouse and delivery service. |
| Community partnership & engagement | Working well with community‑led hubs and understanding their needs. |
| Commercial and financial leadership | Managing budgets, costs and resources with confidence and clarity. |
| Governance & risk oversight | Having strong structures in place to guide decisions and manage risk. |
| Business planning & transition leadership | Leading change steadily while maintaining existing strengths. |
| Stakeholder, donor & partner engagement | Building positive relationships with donors, partners and supporters. |
| Income generation & sustainability | Developing funding approaches that support long‑term resilience. |
5. Desirable Experience
While not essential, the following experience would strengthen an application:
- Delivering or overseeing a distribution, food supply or logistics service.
- Managing growth in a way that protects community identity.
- Supporting community‑led organisations through change, ensuring continuity and trust during transitions.
- Building partnerships across sectors (voluntary, private and public).
- Securing funding or investment to support long‑term sustainability, including social value‑aligned income generation.
6. Inviting Your Vision
We invite interested organisations to set out their vision for the future of innovative, community-led food supply in Norfolk.
We would expect expressions of interest to include:
- What excites you about this opportunity
- What your organisation uniquely brings to this opportunity
- How your organisation demonstrates the Capabilities set out in Section 4, or if there are areas for development
- Reflections on how you would:
- Maintain the strengths of the existing offer
- Develop the offer for the future
- Balance business discipline with a community-led approach
- Engage partners and stakeholders
- Sustain this work for the long term
How to submit your Expression of Interest:
Proposals should be no more than six sides of A4, submitted by email to victorialewis@norfolkfoundation.com by Tuesday 5th May 2026. If you have any questions about this opportunity please contact Tori via email or call on 07760 843124.
Interested? Talk to Victoria
