Become a Better Food Trader
THE BETTER FOOD TRADERS STANDARDS
Because supporting local organic farmers helps them survive, thrive and grow more nature- and planet-friendly produce.
Because organic and agroecological farming is better for soil health, biodiversity, animals and people.
80% is a practical proportion that allows traders to sell a diverse, culturally-appropriate range of fresh produce to their customers while still prioritising local, planet-friendly produce.
Traders of food made from UK-grown plant-based products (bread, pasta, oils, jams, drinks) ensure at least 80% of the ingredients used are local and organic/agroecological.
Because of the damaging carbon impact of air-freighting produce such as asparagus, fine beans, soft fruits and stone fruits. We want to encourage people to shift to more seasonal eating and there is so much great produce grown here in the UK!
Good businesses need to have good systems in place, and we encourage our members to improve their monitoring and reporting to ensure their own success and resilience. We want our members to be sure that they are sourcing locally, ethically and sustainably.
Because we know that business and trade can be a force for good, and that in the real world there is always a triple bottom line of profit, people and planet to balance.
Because the people that traders serve are not ‘consumers’ but citizens who live and work in our community.
Better Food Traders is a non-profit CIC working to improve sustainability in the food system, by building routes to market and increasing sales of food that is better for people and the planet.
See our Membership Pack for more information about why you should join.
If you’re unsure about a full membership, we offer a 12 months trial with all the benefits. After that, you can choose to upgrade.
WE CURRENTLY WELCOME:
- Retailers and wholesalers who sell UK-grown, organic/agroecological fruit and veg, grains, pulses, nuts or seeds.
- Bakers and traders who sell products made from UK-grown, organic/agroecological fruit and veg, grains, pulses, nuts or seeds (bread, pasta, oils, jams, chutneys, drinks).
- Traders who sell ethically-sourced wild or foraged produce.
If you sell mainly meat, eggs or dairy products, we’re very pleased to hear from you but at the moment our focus is on traders who sell plant-based products. This is not so much for ethical reasons as due to the complexities of certification, and where we are as an organisation! We may expand our work to support meat and dairy in the future, but for now we recommend you contact the Soil Association or Pasture for Life.
apply
for
membership
Membership application guidelines
Membership Pack
Membership Tiers
Tier 1
£39 per year
For CSAs, sole traders, start-ups (in their first 2 years) and enterprises with an annual turnover under £50k
Tier 2
£75 per year
For enterprises with an annual turnover between £50k-£150k
Tier 3
£13 per month / £150 a year
For enterprises with an annual turnover of £150k-£500k
Tier 4
£21 per month / £250 a year
For enterprises with an annual turnover of over £500k
We also offer Supporter Tier membership for those who do not fit the trader model:
Supporter
£75 per year
For supporters who do not fit the BFT trader model but align with our wider work, e.g. individuals, NGOs, and other types of enterprises.
- Quarterly Supporters newsletter
- Free place at the Annual Gathering
- Invites to special peer meetups
Membership benefits
- A place on our trader map
- Facilitated peer-to-peer support spaces
- Regular online training and learning sessions with external experts
- Access to 1:1 mentoring and advice during Business Support Week
- Opportunities to influence policy and research
- Monthly newsletter
- Free place at the Annual Gathering
- Access to member only discounts with useful services
Some Key Points
- Fees are per organisation, with all staff and volunteers included
- Everyone receives the same benefits, regardless of tier
- This is a pay-it-forward model. Members who can afford more help those who can’t
- We don’t want fees to be a barrier so discretionary reduced or free memberships are available on request. For a confidential conversation contact Melissa Ray, Membership Manager at Melissa@betterfoodtraders.org
Application Process
1
APPLICATION
Kick-start your journey by filling in our quick and easy application form. It may look a bit detailed but it will only take you 10-15 minutes, honest!
2
ASSESSMENT
Your application is reviewed and we’ll send you an acceptance email, or tips on how to get your business to the standards we require (see above).
3
WELCOME
Once you’re accepted, we’ll send a series of onboarding emails explaining how to access all of our resources, and a lovely window sticker to display with pride.
4
GET INVOLVED
Attend our events, join our campaigns, network with other members, and share your wisdom and advice!
We give people a year to get to know BFT, after which we ask you to support the network by paying some modest fees.
WHY MEMBERSHIP FEES MATTER
We are largely grant-funded, so membership fees are just a part of our income, alongside ticket sales, consultancy and research projects. We are funded by foundations who support changing the food system to enable more sustainable food, farming and communities.
We believe that there’s real value in being a network that is financially supported by those it represents. Membership fees strengthen collective learning, connection, and solidarity among member enterprises, helping build a more resilient network that’s better able to influence the wider system. Your membership fees go into a programme of tailored training for traders, from regular online workshops, Business Support Week, member meet ups and our Annual Gathering. Your contribution goes towards:
- Hiring expert trainers and mentors
- Paying members to lead peer-learning sessions
- Developing shared resources like biannual benchmarking
- Hosting in-person gatherings to build deeper connection
Fees help sustain a space where people feel supported, seen, and part of something bigger. Your contributions are not just financial transactions— fees also demonstrate our shared commitment and make our collective voice stronger—vital for influencing policy, growing demand, and changing how food is produced, sold, and consumed. Still, fees are a small part of what it takes to run this network. That’s where grant funding and consultancy contracts come in.
Your membership application will take 10-15 minutes - you'll need to dig out your social media handles, and some basic business data.
As a member, you become part of a network of enterprises who support and learn from each other, so you're not working alone.
You will join a community of like-minded people are asking the questions you may have asked, exchanging ideas and sharing solutions that match your organisation’s needs.
Your voice is our voice. We’re using our collective voice to engage policy makers and advocate for fairer food systems that centre independent traders. We connect the dots across the UK-wide membership and bring these issues to light for regional and national level change-makers.
By being part of the network you’re ensuring that the government hears your struggles, opinions and vision of the future.
Join Better Food Traders and you’ll benefit from:
- Be featured on our Trader Map so customers can find you
- Expert, sector-specific training sessions e.g. topics like customer retention, marketing, cash flow and SEO.
- Library of resources inc. access to past training and tools.
- Full access to Business Support Week in January, inc. 1:1 expert advice clinics
- A place at our in-person Annual Gathering
- Access to occasional micro-grants such as our Marketing Support Scheme
- Coordinated annual marketing media campaigns from BFT core channels
- Resources such as customisable printed resources and social media assets
- The staff team on hand to support your business journey
- Facilitated networking with a growing network of likeminded traders
You will become part of something bigger: a movement of small businesses and organisations striving to create a real, greener alternative to the food system. Read our Membership Pack for more information on what it means to be a Better Food Trader, membership benefits and our wider work.
You will receive an immediate email confirmation, and then you'll hear from us within a few days of applying if your application is successful.
If you receive a rejection email, we will follow up with you to explain how you can improve your working practices in order to become a Better Food Trader.