About us

The initiative has been developed and is managed by the directors of two organisations based in Wales, both commited to sustainable food chains - f3 and Ecostudio.

Simon Michaels has a background in environmental planning, and in the last 10 years, has set up several successful enterprises and advised many others in the food and environment sectors.
Simon is a founding director of f3, a co-operative of consultants UK-wide whose members advise public sector agencies, producer businesses and social enterprises in the local food sector. f3 has carried out over 170 business planning, marketing, and research projects since 1999.
He is also director of Localfoodshop, www.localfoodshop.co.uk, an e-commerce facility for producers and a one-stop shop for customers looking to buy local food online, which launched in late 2007.
Simon also ran, for three years, a successful artisan bakery producing organic sourdough bread, and is one of the three directors of a social enterprise in Cardiff which runs the farmers’ market and other community food projects.

Iain Cox is the Founder of Ecostudio and is an experienced sustainable development practitioner with a background in design and project management.
With a proven business acumen he is passionate about the need for a vibrant and sustainable food and drink sector. He has worked with many Welsh companies to apply eco-conscious design, brand and sustainable business practice.
He is the lead judge and organiser of the True Taste Wales Contribution to Sustainable Development award and is a Member of the Agrifood Partnership Trade Development Group for the Welsh Assembly Government.
Iain has worked overseas and has spent extensive periods of time in developing countries. He holds an MSc in Environmental Decision Making, a BSc in Industrial Design and has co-written research papers on responsible design and sustainable business practice.

Susie Gardner has been interested in sustainable development for over ten years. Her first environmental experience was gained whilst at the RSPB as an education and conservation assistant. The main focus of this role was to distribute Sustainable development literature to schools and members of the public. It was from here that Susie decided to take an MSc in Environmental Management and Conservation. During this time Susie set up a Veterinary recruitment business called “The Gardner Llewelyn Group” with her partner.
Susie then worked for the “Severn Estuary Partnership” (SEP) as a project assistant. The main role of the SEP is to assist with the management of the Severn Estuary in a sustainable way. Since leaving SEP Susie has renovated a farmhouse and agricultural barn in the country. She has renewable energy throughout the buildings, her own livestock and grows her own produce. Susie is now working as a project assistant for the Sustainable Supply Chains Initiative and recently finished working as a project officer on a project with Ecostudio.

Link to f3

Link to Ecostudio