Social entrepreneurship as a tool for achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on a local scale: ‘The Larder’ providing the ingredients for food fairness

Abstract

This chapter explores social entrepreneurship as a tool for achieving selected United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the food system in Preston, UK. Underpinned by social entrepreneurship theory and the UN 2030 Agenda, this chapter presents findings from research with the social enterprise The Larder. The study had a three-fold purpose: (1) to investigate how The Larder’s social entrepreneurial activity contributes to sustainable development locally; (2) to explore what contribution The Larder is making to fulfilling the SDGs in Preston and (3) to establish what ‘ingredients’ (factors) make up The Larder’s ‘recipe’ in their agenda for ‘food fairness for all.’ This study follows the principles of case study research. Data was collected through interviews with the Founder and Director of The Larder, by observational research and by accessing secondary data sources. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data and the insight gained was synthesised into a list of six ‘ingredients’ for the implementation of food fairness on a local scale. The findings are of value to an academic audience, social policy makers and communities looking for a recipe to develop a sustainable food system.