Local bread, local impact: how Capannori is transforming school meals through public procurement

In the municipality of Capannori (Plain of Lucca, Italy), bread has become more than a staple food: it is a concrete example of how public procurement can transform local food systems and improve children’s diets. Through FoodCLIC, a process was launched to identify local producers interested in supplying public canteens. This led to the creation of a short supply chain for bread, bringing together a farm cultivating ancient grains, a stone mill, and a local artisan bakery. Working in close cooperation, they deliver high-quality bread made from locally sourced grains, effectively eliminating food miles.

The local canteen provider tested the product, recognised its quality, and decided to include it in school menus. Today, primary school children in Capannori enjoy bread made from local ancient grains on a daily basis: a simple but powerful shift that connects their meals directly to the surrounding territory. This case illustrates how Green Public Procurement (GPP) can act as a powerful lever to connect public demand with local entrepreneurship, creating stable markets for small farmers and artisans. In Capannori, this model reduces transport-related emissions, supports biodiversity through the use of ancient grain varieties, and improves children’s diets with more nutritious food. Capannori shows that public procurement is not just an administrative tool, but a strategic opportunity to reshape local food systems. By identifying and engaging local producers, facilitating cooperation along the supply chain, and integrating sustainability-oriented requirements into procurement contracts, municipalities and canteen managers can strengthen local economies while promoting healthier and more sustainable public meals.

This blog was written by Riccardo Pensa from the Municipality of Capannori 

Publishing date: 15 April 2026