Business­-Building Opportunity For Caterers

British Food Fortnight

20th September – 5th October 2008

WHAT IS BRITISH FOOD FORTNIGHT?

Running from 20^th September to 5^th October and now in its seventh year, British Food Fortnight is the biggest national celebration of the diverse and delicious range of food that Britain produces.  Every year, pubs, restaurants, tourism attractions, public sector restaurants and food-service organisations take part, all enjoying the commercial benefits that participation brings.  Many of the largest food service organisations and major pub groups regularly run British promotions during the event.

WHY SHOULD CATERERS TAKE PART?  Catering establishments taking part in British Food Fortnight have proved that buying British is affordable, adds real value to profits and is a powerful way to differentiate from the competition.  The buzz of the national food promotion makes it an attractive time to experiment with new suppliers, explore alternative supply chains or, if you already source British, to shout about the fact that you do.

The Fortnight is also an opportunity to teach the next generation how to cook.  The event’s initiative inviting chefs to work with schools to teach children how to cook is the largest volunteer movement educating children about food with organisations representing over 9,000 chefs taking part. 

In the build-up to the event, over 30,000 schools in the UK are being invited to bring chefs into the classroom to teach children how to prepare simple meals using the best of Britain’s in-season produce and to enter the British Food Fortnight ‘Cook for Life’ Challenge, sponsored by Kenwood, to find the school that incorporates cookery in the national curriculum in the most imaginative and innovative way.  Caterers wanting to participate can, for example, give a cooking demonstration or lesson in their local school, offer their kitchen facilities to their local school as a venue for a cooking lesson, ask their regular suppliers to donate ingredients for cooking lessons and make their restaurant a venue where children can learn about food with child-friendly menu promotions, quizzes and fact sheets.

WHO IS TAKING PART?

For the first time the event is focusing in particular on public procurement: the NHS, Ministry of Defence, prison service and all Government departments are being challenged to join the national celebration and put British food on their menus during the Fortnight.

The number of large food service organisations taking part has increased from five last year to eight: ARAMARK (who is sponsoring the event for the third year), Brakes, Compass Group, Sodexo, BaxterStorey, Elior UK, One Complete Solution and Anchor Trust Residential Care & Nursing Homes.

In the pub sector six major pub groups are participating: Enterprise Inns, Everards, Marston’s Pub Company, Mitchells & Butlers, Orchid Pub Group and Punch Taverns.                                                                                                    

In the tourism sector: the National Trust and Youth Hostel Association.

WHERE CAN WE GET MORE INFORMATION?

All the resources caterers need to take part are on the event’s website www.britishfoodfortnight.co.uk which is a one-stop-shop of advice not just for the Fortnight but on everything caterers need to make British food a commercial success in their establishments: advice on sourcing, supplier contacts, case studies, advice on promoting your business in the media, sample regionalised menus and what’s in season when charts.  There is a new special section for those involved in public procurement.  All editions of the event’s ‘Britain’s Regional Food & Drink’ series of publications for caterers are downloadable from the site: ‘Advice for Retailers & Caterers’; ‘Retail & Catering Case Studies’; and ‘The Basics’.  Plus: ideas for working with schools, inspiring examples of chefs already doing so and recipe cards for children.  A ‘Hot Tips on taking part in 2008’ guide is available with an A3 ‘Love British Food!’ poster to display in your restaurant. 

To order your copy email info@britishfoodfortnight.co.uk , Tel: 020 7840 9292 or download from www.britishfoodfortnight.co.uk .

WHO IS BEHIND IT?   British Food Fortnight is sponsored by Budgens, ARAMARK and the Department of Health’s 5 A DAY Just Eat More (fruit & veg) programme and features the British Food Fortnight ‘Cook for Life’ Challenge sponsored by Kenwood.  It is supported by over 40 organisations led by Brakes, Compass Group, Country Markets, Mitchells & Butlers, National Farmers’ Union, National Trust, Sodexo and Tenant Farmers Association.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?  Mark Holmes, from ADAS, who helps Sheffield Teaching Hospitals source locally, says: “British Food Fortnight is an ideal catalyst for finding new suppliers and sourcing more sustainably. Hospitals, schools and staff restaurants putting British on the menu during the event have proved it is possible to source locally.” Alan Todd, Catering Development Manager of Punch Taverns, echoes his enthusiasm: “British Food Fortnight is a key business-building opportunity.”

Organiser of the event, Alexia Robinson, adds: “The thousands of catering establishments taking part every year prove that British food, sensibly sourced and actively promoted on menus, is affordable and adds real value to profits.  The fact that the public sector is signing up to take part in British Food Fortnight in such a big way this year is an indication of the extent to which the catering industry as a whole is responding to the growing demand for sustainably sourced, seasonal British produce.”

WHERE CAN WE FIND OUT MORE? For information on British Food Fortnight, contact Alexia Robinson or Jennifer Meakin. T: 020 7840 9292

E: info@britishfoodfortnight.co.uk   W: www.britishfoodfortnight.co.uk .