Made In Lancashire Monthly Update

February- March 2009

Consumer Magazine

The March to June publication is now available covering all our usual topics of 'Where to Eat', Farmer’s Market dates and 'Where to buy'. We get a great response to the magazine from the public and receive at least two or three requests to be added to the mailing list each week, usually with some great comments too such as:

“First time I have read this publication! Excellent brochure. Handy size. Very informative on local area. Could “Open Gardens be included perhaps”

“My friend passed on her copy of your excellent newsletter. I look forward to receiving my own copies”

Community Nutrition Audit

We are working hard to complete the reporting on this audit which is due to be presented to the Wyre and Fylde Strategic Partnerships on 31^st March.

The audit has highlighted some interesting needs and barriers around the growing and buying of local fruit and vegetables and we will hopefully be able to use some of the findings in future Made in Lancashire work.

Radio Lancashire again…

We have a good relationship with our local radio station who often ask us for information on producers and this month we put forward several of our bacon curers! One of them, Honeywell Meats will be featured on the Ted Robbins show discussing the technique and of course promoting their two outlets.

January - February 2009

Young Chef Sponsorship

Made in Lancashire is involved in the Lancashire Young Chef competition run by Lancashire Education Business Partnership and this month we have secured some great PR for our members who have donated prizes and ingredients for this well supported chef competition. The project aims to encourage Key Sage 3 and 4 students to experience the hospitality industry and the winners go on to spend a day cooking with the Army catering division, much more fun than it sounds! Heats begin in February and Belinda will be judging the students written work and their practical skills in the kitchen. The sponsors will be invited to the finals to spend time with the students, their parents and teachers and of course local press.

Community Nutrition Audit

In January Made in Lancashire won a bid to conduct a study for the Wyre and Fylde District Partnerships on the availability of local fresh fruit and vegetables. We are half way through that study now and are meeting many new potential members. Part of the study is a consumer survey and we have had a great response to it. Although the analysis has not yet been completed the general response to buying local seems to be very positive and we’ll hopefully get involved in some of the actions that stem from it.

Pancakes on Radio Lancashire

Following a call from Radio Lancashire we got Made in Lancashire members The Leyland Hotel on a prime time slot with Ted Robbins on 24^th February, the Head Chef Marshall Lane and General Manager Terence Southward went along flipping pancakes and got some fantastic publicity for their new menu of crammed full of Lancashire produce!

October – December 2008

Festive Hampers

Made in Lancashire sold festive hampers for the first time this year. Just over 50 hampers were sold full of delicious products such as Sandham’s creamy Lancashire cheese, Mawson’s sarsaparilla, Just Chocolate’s beautiful hand made chocolates and J Atkinsons Lancaster Fairtrade blend of delicious filter coffee, all from our fabulous producers. The hampers were well received by all who bought them, some were gifts and some bought by people who simply wanted to indulge themselves over the Christmas period.

Samlesbury Hall

The best event of the last quarter was definitely the Samlesbury Hall Christmas food and craft fair which Made in Lancashire helped to promote to the pubic and our members. Made in Lancashire hampers and also some individual items were sold and the Hall was packed from the opening of the doors at 10am until much later in the afternoon. Hopefully the Hall was host to many new visitors who, having seen how beautiful it is, will come back and spend more time there. Producers also had a great day and are keen to attend again. Hopefully we will be working with Samlesbury again with plans for three or four such events each year.

Holland’s Pies

Made in Lancashire are proud to announce Holland’s Pies as a new member, they joined us at the end of 2008 and have already added our logo to much of their marketing material, which gives us some great coverage throughout the Northwest! One of the reasons Holland’s wanted to become members was to become more involved in local events so we hope to see them out and about over the next few months.