A Taste of What is to Come 2009

Media Information

News releases about British Food Fortnight and the Love British Food campaign are provided below.

For media information, please contact the organisers:

Tel: 020 7840 9292 (Media enquiries only, please)

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For details of events taking place around the country during British Food Fortnight please click here

A Taste of What is to Come 2009

“We love British Food Fortnight!”
Dave Myers & Simon King, BBC’s ‘Hairy Bikers’celebrity chefs

WHAT IS BRITISH FOOD FORTNIGHT? Running from 19th September to 4th October and now in its eighth year, British Food Fortnight is the biggest national celebration of the diverse and delicious range of food that Britain produces.
WHAT’S NEW THIS YEAR? This year British Food Fortnight celebrates credit crunch British food: cheaper cuts of meat, grow your own, seasonal food that is plentiful and therefore cheaper, 5 A DAY the British way and cooking at home. The message is ‘Want value? - eat British!’

More British promotions in supermarkets than ever before. Three of the biggest supermarkets are already making plans for British Food Fortnight promotions signifying the greatest support in the history of the event. Budgens, the official retail sponsor of the event, will be championing British food in all 200 of its stores with tastings, meet-the-producer events and special offers and hundreds of independent stores will be flying the Union Jack in the high street.

Activities for the young and old. British Food Fortnight’s school programme - the 'Cook for Life' Challenge, sponsored by Kenwood - is the biggest yet with prizes of Kenwood cooking equipment for the top 110 schools taking part. This year’s challenge is to use British seasonal food to design and cook a meal that contains a healthy balance of the food groups the body needs and contains at least two portions that count towards our 5 A DAY. And Anchor Trust, the biggest provider of Care Homes for the elderly, is planning lots of activities and special menus for its residents.

On the menu this year: Seven of the largest food service organisations, led by ARAMARK, six major pub groups, all the chef associations, the National Trust and the Youth Hostel Association are all taking part so expect to see an abundance of British food on menus this Autumn.

Is it British? Yes Minister! Last year British Food Fortnight was credited with helping to increase the proportion of British food sourced by Government departments to 66%. NHS Trusts, school catering services and major Government departments including even the Cabinet Office are all expected to be joining in the national celebrations this year and taking up the challenge to put British on their menus during the Fortnight.

Eat your way around Britain during the Fortnight with more opportunities than ever before for people to enjoy British food led by the National Trust that is hosting masses of ‘Food Glorious Food’ events in its properties during the event. Plus food festivals in Cornwall, Cardiff, the East Midlands, Nantwich, Abergavenny, Aldeburgh, Mold, York and Horsham.

BBC’s Hairy Bikers, Dave Myers and Simon King, lead the event’s network of 9,000 chefs that is at the ready to help schools teach children about the delights of our national produce and how to cook. The network is made up of chefs from some of the biggest catering organisations, chef associations and pub groups all of whom have volunteered to send people into schools to teach children how to cook during British Food Fortnight.
WHY IS THE EVENT SO IMPORTANT THIS YEAR? Commenting on the event’s credit crunch focus this year, organiser Alexia Robinson says: “In these harsh economic times, we are all being forced to re-think how sustainable our lifestyles are. British Food Fortnight has extra pertinence this year as we pause to consider where our food comes from, whether it is sustainable and how we can get value for money when we are shopping or eating out.

“Value in the case of food is not just about price - it is about taste, freshness, quality and provenance. British food, produced to the highest standards in the world, is the best guarantee of these values.”
WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO HELP PEOPLE TAKE PART?

New website: such is the popularity of the event that it has launched a year-round information service www.lovebritishfood.co.uk - the one-stop-shop for consumers, retailers, caterers and schools wanting to enjoy British food. The site includes a ‘Supermarket Watch’ monitoring what British food is being sold in the big stores, search facilities to find pubs and restaurants serving British food, a Teacher Zone, credit crunch tips, information on logos, labelling and regional and seasonal varieties. Plus all the resources people need to take part in British Food Fortnight.
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 60 organisations led by Brakes, Compass Group, Country Markets, National Farmers’ Union, National Trust, Sodexo, Tenant Farmers Association, Young’s pubs and Youth Hostel Association.

WHERE CAN WE FIND OUT MORE? For information on British Food Fortnight and to order resources, contact Alexia Robinson or Amanda Hitt.

T: 020 7840 9292.
E: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
W: www.lovebritishfood.co.uk.

Comments from people who took part last year

“British Food Fortnight is a huge force for good.”
Tom Parker Bowles

“We had a fantastically successful British Food Fortnight – the number of children eating school meals doubled in some schools!”
Sue Edridge, Food with Thought Development Manager, Oxfordshire County Council

“Every year we send 50 chefs into schools to give children cooking lessons during British Food Fortnight. The chefs enjoy it, schools love it and our clients are very supportive.”
Frazer Rendell, Director, ARAMARK food service organisation

“British Food Fortnight’s initiative sending chefs into schools is an invaluable way of teaching the next generation and we love being a part of it.”
Dave Myers & Simon King, BBC’s ‘Hairy Bikers’ celebrity chefs who regularly support the event’s school activities

“Since we’ve sponsored British Food Fortnight, we have seen sales of certain British lines increase by more than 80%.”
Val Carter, Corporate Responsibility Director, Aramark, quoted in Eat Out, September 2008

“British Food Fortnight’s website is a wonderful resource! Saved me hours of work this weekend – thank you.”
Subscriber to TES

“It’s occasions like British Food Fortnight when you realise how much fun shopping at markets is.”
Mike Tattersall, Oakwood Farmers’ Market

“The class teacher and pupils had a great time making soups, smoothies and omelettes for British Food Fortnight. Thanks for creating such a great competition.”
Ian Jones, Headteacher, Ysgol San Sior, Conwy Wales

“British Food Fortnight has given our residents an opportunity to get involved with the food we serve them. The whole two weeks were a fantastic event.”
Roy Garland, Catering Manager, Anchor Homes, which organised many events in 83 homes across the country

“As always, the British Food Fortnight resources are fantastic.”
Jo Matthews, School Meals Development Officer, Wolverhampton City Council

“There was a real buzz around the school for the whole fortnight. ”
Mrs Kelsey, Teacher, Sutton Benger C of E Aided School

“For chefs, helping teach children how to cook during British Food Fortnight is great because it allows you to see things from another perspective.”
Daniel James, Head Chef, The Copthorne Hotel, Cardiff, who worked with pupils from Ysgol Gyfun Plasmawr

“Get behind British Food Fortnight. Customers love it and it is a superb platform for media coverage.”
Jonathan James, owner of Budgens stores in Norfolk and Cambridgeshire

“The whole school really enjoyed taking part in British Food Fortnight and our invited guests loved their meal!”
Dawn Finlayson, Principal Teacher, Stenton Primary School

“You’d be crazy not to get involved in British Food Fortnight.”
Atul Sodha, owner of Peverells, a Londis store in Uxbridge, Middlesex

“Pupils really enjoyed participating in the ‘Cook for Life’ Challenge and cooking their meal. Thank you for the opportunity to participate.”
W McQueen, Teacher, Killicomaine Junior High School, Craigavon, N. Ireland

“Our British Food Fortnight promotion was so successful we haven’t stopped running the menu ever since. Keep it coming!”
Michel Nijsten, Albright Hussey Manor Hotel & Moat Room Restaurant

“British Food Fortnight’s school competition is excellent because it highlights the advantages to the environment of buying local produce and in-season ingredients.”
Miss Murphy, Geography teacher, Killicomaine Junior High School, Craigavon, N. Ireland

“We need campaigns such as British Food Fortnight to explain to consumers why British food and drink is worth buying and actively seeking out.”
John Geldard, British beef and lamb farmer

“It was a brilliant fortnight and all our children were able to gain valuable life skills and learn where their food comes from.”
Alexandra Special School, South Harrow

“British Food Fortnight was a great experience; the children's enthusiasm for a ‘Real Chef’ showing them how to cook was infectious.”
Gary Bolton, one of 50 ARAMARK chefs who worked with schools during the event.

“There was a lovely atmosphere in the school and I have already had people ask when we will be doing it again.”
Lorna Watson, Deputy Headteacher, St Marks Primay School, Hadlow Down, whose pupils invited elderly members of the community to join them for tea.

“To everyone that buys British produce, we give a big thank you to British Food Fortnight!”
Jim Stephens, Sandford farmer

“Every pupil loved taking part in British Food Fortnight!”
Ashley Drummond, Pinewood School, West Lothian

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