About CFE Limited

Community Food Enterprise Limited (CFE) is a social enterprise food business which is rooted in the London Borough of Newham and was founded in 2002 by members of the local community.

Our aim is to develop a viable and sustainable community food enterprise that will provide training and employment opportunities for members of the community.

Our Mission

Our mission is to partner with the diverse people of the East London region, and nationally to safeguard and sustain their right to the right food as a fundamental condition for individual and community health and well being. We will realise this mission by enhancing food access, by disseminating and promoting best practices in diet and nutrition, and by appropriate education, training and outreach.

Our Vision and Values

At CFE, we believe that everyone in the community has the right not just to food, but to the right food. At the heart of our belief is the principle that access to food is a right, not a privilege. The food and drink we consume should be safe, nutritious, affordable, accessible and culturally acceptable.

Our values, which flow from our vision, are:

the right to the right food must be balanced by individual and community responsibility, both to our food supply and to our eating habits
awareness, education and social engagement are the keys to responsible behaviour: enablement and empowerment reduce the risks of exclusion and of dependency
“reconnection” – knowing and safeguarding where food comes from, how it is produced and the role it plays in our diverse diets and cultures – is the foundation of a sustainable community, supports regeneration and reduces waste
Improved dietary understanding and nutritional practices are the foundation stones for achieving better health for all.
Understanding the role that food plays in our lives and access to it are the two main aspects of the challenge that we face as an enterprise. We are committed to creating a resource that complements and enables market-based food access solutions. In consequence, we have developed a “community enterprise” business model, which we believe can be taught and replicated outside East London.

Recognition/Achievements

The entrepreneurship, innovation and achievements of CFE, its staff, partners and volunteers are recognised nationwide and by the number of awards they have received. These include: