British Food Fortnight
17th September – 2nd October 2011

The tenth British Food Fortnight starts this weekend.  Running from 17th September to 2nd October, the next two weeks see promotions galore of British food with supporters as diverse as St Paul's Cathedral, BHS Stores, John Lewis Stratford, St Pancras International train station, universities, care homes for the elderly, the Cabinet Office, X Factor's Dermott O'Leary and even a zoo taking part!  Highlights include: 

• CELEBRATING THE EVENT'S 10th ANNIVERSARY…10 years ago British Food Fortnight started with the support of just a few vicars, with the simple aim of reinvigorating Harvest Festival and supporting the countryside after foot-and-mouth.  It is now the biggest national celebration of British food.  Thousands of foodie activities have taken place under its umbrella; more than 70 organisations now take part; retailers report sales increases of 34% as a result; school meals are up 20 - 50% in participating schools; and the largest volunteer movement educating people about food has been founded, led by the BBC's Hairy Bikers.  The Royal Family, Harrods, the BBC's Hairy Bikers, Wembley Stadium, Downing Street and The Archers are just a few of the famous names that have taken part alongside thousands of shops, pubs and restaurants that support the event every year.


• ON YOUR MARKS, GET SET, GO!…thisyear's event is a warm-up for 2012 when British Food Fortnight will run at the same time as the London Olympics.  Shops, pubs and restaurants are responding to the challenge by trial running patriotic British food promotions in preparation for welcoming the world to Britain.  Family Feasts bringing the Olympic spirit to the most deprived areas of Britain, a very special 2012 school competition and ‘Love British Food' promotions are all planned for next year.


• BRITISH FOOD FORTNIGHT GETS THE X FACTOR...X Factor's Dermot O'Leary leads support for this year's event in his Fishy Fishy restaurants, joining ten of the largest food service organisations led by ARAMARK, seven major pub groups led by Taylor Walker and Mitchells & Butlers, QHotels and hundreds of shops, restaurants and hotels all of which are putting British food on the menu and shop-shelves during the two weeks.  So look out for special menus, tastings, meet-the-producer events and British offers galore!  The public sector too is supporting with major hospitals, school catering services and even the Cabinet Office taking part.  And politicians are being given a nudge to support British with British Food Fortnight promotions at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester.


• FUN FOR ALL THE FAMILY…look out for food festivals in more than half the English counties; healthy eating activities in universities; a network of 9,000 volunteers, led by the BBC's Hairy Bikers, ready to help schools teach children how to cook; foraging walks, food trails and fungi forays; a harvest swap shop in St. Paul's Cathedral; food celebrations at St Pancras International train station; special meals in care homes for the elderly and even a British menu for animals in the zoo!  See the What's Happening pages on www.lovebritishfood.co.uk for details of what is happening near you!


• SCHOOLS COMPETE TO DESIGN A MEAL FOR AN OLYMPIC ATHLETE: as a prelude to the event's Olympic activities next year, all schools in the UK are being invited to design the perfect meal to help athletes go for gold in 2012.  The winning school will receive a visit from a top Olympic athlete hoping to compete at London 2012.  They will learn about their fitness and nutritional regime and what life is really like in an Olympic athletes village! 


• STUDENTS GET A FRESH START AS UNIVERSITIES JOIN THE CELEBRATIONS:  British Food Fortnight coincides with university Freshers' Fairs where students are the forgotten generation in the food debate.  Fifteen universities across Britain are rising to the challenge this year with British Food Fortnight promotions in student cafes and canteens; and stalls at Freshers' Fairs promoting the healthy benefits of British seasonal food. 


• WHY IS THE EVENT SO PARTICULARLY EXCITING THIS YEAR?  Commentingon the event's 10th Anniversary, organiser Alexia Robinson says: “British Food Fortnight started when the countryside was in the grip of Foot and Mouth. With the support of just a few vicars around the country, the aim was to reinvigorate Harvest Festival - the idea of everyone coming together to celebrate the produce of our land; and to make us more like the French and the Italians whose love of their regional foods is ingrained in their national consciousness.  Ten years on it is the biggest, and only, food umbrella uniting everyone in the country.
  
  She continues: “This year's event takes place amidst dire economic forecasts.  There is a real danger that British food will drop off menus to be replaced by cheaper imports offering higher margins and price promotions will make British food less competitive on shop shelves.  Pennies are tight but as we look ahead to the patriotism of next year with the Diamond Jubilee and Olympics, we call on everyone to fly the Union Jack for Britain on your plates as well as on your bunting!  Come on Britain, remember British is best!”


• WHO IS BEHIND IT?  British Food Fortnight is sponsored by ARAMARK, the leading food service partner, and is supported by a large family of over 70 organisations led by 3663, Brakes, Mitchells & Butlers, NFU, QHotels, Quality British Turkey, Sodexo and Taylor Walker. 

For further information and details of specific events taking place across the country see www.lovebritishfood.co.uk

ENDS

For further press information and photography, please contact Alexia or Danielle in the Event Office on T: 020 7840 9292. E: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.lovebritishfood.co.uk.