Join Us
You shouldn't have to go it alone
Running an independent sustainable food business is hard work. Better Food Traders is a network of people who get it. Join us and become part of something bigger: a movement of small businesses and organisations striving to create a better, greener alternative to the current food system.
Who we welcome
We welcome retailers, wholesalers, bakers, market traders, veg box schemes, food hubs and online sellers who meet the six Better Food Traders Standards.
- The majority of our products are sustainably produced. This means certified Organic, chemical-free where own-grown, agroecological, Organic or Pasture For Life for meat/ dairy, MSC for fish, or other recognised sustainable production certification.
- We prioritise working with local climate-and nature- friendly farms, and working with the seasons.
- We are committed to fair trade, fair prices and decent work in the food sector.
- We operate on a triple bottom line where profit, peo ple and planet are all important.
- We implement circular business practices.
- We are locally-rooted, working in and for our local community.
Ready to join the movement?
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Everything you get as a member
A BFT Membership gives you practical tools and real connections. It’s more than just a logo to put on your website. You will join a community of like-minded people who are asking the questions you may have asked, exchanging ideas and sharing solutions that match your organisation’s needs.
- 1
A place on our trader map
So customers looking for better food can find you directly.
- 2
Expert training sessions
Regular online workshops on customer retention, marketing, cash flow, SEO and more, led by sector specialists.
- 3
Business Support Week
A full week of workshops and one-to-one expert advice clinics every January.
- 4
Annual Gathering
An in-person event to connect, learn and recharge with the wider network.
- 5
Resource library
Instant access to past training sessions, guides, tools and templates to help your business.
- 6
Peer-learning groups
Online meetups and sector-specific networking—so you can learn from others facing similar challenges.
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Marketing campaigns & assets
Coordinated annual campaigns from BFT’s channels, plus customisable printed resources and social media assets.
- 8
Micro-grants
Access to occasional funding opportunities, including our Marketing Support Scheme.
- 9
Regular newsletters
Stay up to date with sector news, funding opportunities, policy changes and network stories.
- 10
The BFT team behind you
A dedicated staff team on hand to support your business journey.
Ready to Join the Movement?
Your voice is our voice
We’re using our collective voice to engage policymakers and advocate for fairer food systems that centre independent traders. Better Food Traders connects the dots across the UK-wide membership and brings these issues to light for regional and national level change-makers. We strive to get the people who are making decisions about our food system to hear directly from the people running it. By being part of the network you’re ensuring that government hears your struggles, opinions and vision of the future.
You’re not just joining a network. You’re helping change the system.
Membership that works for businesses of all sizes
Since 2025 our network has been supported by an affordable membership model. Our membership fees are tiered to reflect the size of your business and individual trader turnover, so it’s fair whatever stage you’re at.
We are largely grant-funded, so membership fees are just a part of our income, alongside ticket sales, consultancy and research projects. Our funding also comes from foundations who support changing the food system to enable more sustainable food, farming and communities. However, fees matter.
Here’s why we think fees are important.
Fees help sustain a space where people feel supported, seen, and part of something bigger. Your contributions are not just financial transactions. They demonstrate our shared commitment and make our collective voice stronger. This is vital for influencing policy, growing demand, and changing how food is produced, sold, and consumed.
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.
Expert trainers & mentors
Bringing in the best people to run sessions that are genuinely useful.
Peer-led learning
Paying members to lead sector specific sessions to share their expertise with the network.
Shared biannual benchmarking
Developing the data resources that help you understand where your business stands.
In-person gatherings
Hosting events such as our Annual Gather where deeper connections and better ideas are made.
Not sure yet?
We offer a 12-month trial with full member benefits. After that, you can choose to upgrade to full membership.