Quality Regional Food At Top Of Northwest Menu As UK Local Market Grows By £1.3 Billion

Quality regional food produced in the Northwest is worth around £500 million to the regional economy, as a growing appetite for local and regional food sees the sector’s estimated UK market size increase by £1.3 billion, according to the most recent industry research carried out by Food Northwest.

The organisation, set up by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), to lead the food and drink industry, believes that in spite of the recession, there is further capacity for the region’s local producers to continue to grow their businesses, not only within the Northwest, but across the country.

From 2003 to 2007 the UK local and regional food and drink sector grew from an estimated market size of £3.7 billion to £5 billion - representing a 35 per cent growth[1] while in 2007 the Northwest’s quality regional food sector[2] turned over an estimated £500 million.

The Northwest has a thriving local and speciality food sector with producers representing a full range of food and drink products, from speciality producers selling through farmers’ markets or online retail, to major retailers sourcing local milk, potatoes or lamb.

The figures were compiled by Food Northwest following a wider mapping study which shows that the regional food and drink industry is worth £9.5 billion, employing more than 440, 000 people and representing more than 12 percent of the region’s economy.

Pat Foreman, chief executive of Food Northwest said: “This is really good news for us, demonstrating the strength of the quality regional food sector in the region, against a backdrop of reported national market growth in local and regional foods, particularly during such a difficult economic time.

“Figures show that while there has been a growing appetite for local and regional foods nationally, here in the Northwest, the regional food sector is a significant force in the local economy. The Northwest is home to some of the most passionate and talented food and drink producers in the UK with a regional consumer base of nearly seven million people on their doorstep. 

“While the figures are from 2007, prior to the full economic downturn, we believe that there is continued potential for local and regional producers to weather the recession and continue to prosper. Retailers continue to report that they are still looking for new local suppliers of a range of food and drink products in order to expand their regional offer, in response to consumer demand. While the recession may be challenging for some premium speciality products, our study shows that there are still opportunities for genuine quality products, which can demonstrate real value to customers.

“In addition, foodservice outlets offer a good opportunity for local food and drink producers and we predict that they can strengthen their sales nationally as well as in the Northwest, whatever their size of businesses. “

The Northwest food and drink manufacturing sector is larger than any other region in the UK and the region plays a key role in supplying food and drink to the wider UK consumer base.

Pat Foreman says: “Food security will become an increasingly important issue for the Northwest as a big producer of food and drink, with a large consumer base, as well as playing a key role in supplying the wider UK. While we can’t ignore global markets, strengthening the local and regional foods sector is crucial, as it helps to build a secure regional supply chain by creating a market for primary producers and processors within the region. Meanwhile, messages of stronger provenance help to better link consumers with food and encourage them to support their local producers and the economy. “

Mark Bareham, sector leader of food and drink for the NWDA said: “The difficult economic conditions are having a knock-on effect in consumer spending habits. Research is showing that a growing number of consumers now prefer to buy local quality products. The Northwest is ideally positioned to take advantage of this growing trend with more food manufacturing enterprises than any other UK region with particular strengths in; upland farming, dairy pastures, salt marshes, horticulture, sustainable local fisheries and speciality foods.”

Food Northwest is committed to supporting local and speciality producers and has recently published the successful NW Food Lovers Guide – a pocket size guide to the Northwest’s variety of speciality foods.

Food NW has also added two new award categories to this year’s prestigious Food Northwest Awards to recognise fine food producers, incorporating a new Fine Food NW Awards.

 

For further media information, contact Jeanette Riley/Hilary Berg at Leapfrog PR on 0151 707 6988.

Click the links below for further information about the NW Food Lovers Guide or the Food NW Awards 2009.

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[1] Northwest Food and Drink Cluster Mapping Study prepared for Food Northwest by Promar International (ADAS report for DEFRA – Market Research Report on Quality Regional Food Businesses (November 2007)

[2] Quality regional food is defined as:

• produced within a specific geographic area
• marketed as coming from that area
• perceived as having a distinct quality because of where is has been produced or the method of production
• may be sold both within or outside the area of production

Download the press release here