Start preparing your university for British Food Fortnight!

This year British Food Fortnight has teamed up with the Department of Health’s 5 A DAY Just Eat More (fruit & veg) programme to celebrate British food ‘on a budget’ with a special focus on universities.  British Food Fortnight coincides with Freshers’ Fairs in most universities where students, many of whom are catering for themselves for the first time, are the forgotten generation in the food debate. 

This year university caterers are being invited to run British Food Fortnight promotions in student cafes and canteens; set up stalls at Freshers’ Fairs to promote the healthy benefits of British seasonal food; and offer cooking demonstrations of simple recipes for students.

Why take part?

Taking part in British Food Fortnight has lots of potential for university caterers as it generates great PR, is proven to increase the number of people eating in your restaurants and will establish a point of different between your university outlets and those that serve only bland mainstream products.

British Food Fortnight’s University Challenge - compete to win!

The organisers of British Food Fortnight are holding a special competition to find the university chef who takes part in the most imaginative way! University chefs are challenged to run special menu promotions and activities during the national food promotion. Think of activities that will encourage students to enjoy their 5 A DAY and eat healthy, seasonal British food, particularly first-time students as the event coincides with Freshers Fairs! Here are some suggestions of how you can take part:

1. Promote a special British Food Fortnight menu in your university restaurants or canteens for the Fortnight. Either enhance your existing menu or offer students a special British food promotion.


2. Offer cookery demonstrations for freshers using simple recipes and guidance for students about where they can buy fresh, healthy, affordable ingredients.


3. Add a paragraph to the catering pages of the University website about your activities and menus during British Food Fortnight and provide advice on eating healthily and variedly.


4. Set up a stall at Fresher Fair to advertise the healthy benefits of British seasonal food and promote your menus.


5. Promote your participation in the national food promotion by using British Food Fortnight’s promotional material to decorate your outlets. Love British Food stickers and barkers [click here]. Posters and the official British Food Fortnight logo which you can use on your menus are available by emailing: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The winning chef that takes part in British Food Fortnight’s University Challenge in the most imaginative way will win a voucher for a stay in a leading hotel. Entering is easy: simply email a brief description of how you are taking part to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Good Luck and get creative!