The unsustainability of the globalized food system is a relevant debate. Despite the vast amount of literature on sustainable food systems, there is little research explaining how food system innovations can scale impact and influence systemic change. Moreover, not much literature considers the territorial context in which innovations take place, as a key factor in fostering transition. This publication highlights how territorial factors, such as actors and networks, influence sustainable food system transition. Considering a case study of 12 urban food system innovations in Montpellier (France), the relational context is reconstructed, in order to demonstrate the key role of embedded territorial dynamics in fostering sustainable transition.