A taste of things to come

British Food Fortnight runs from 20th September to 5th October, and now in its seventh year, the event is the biggest national celebration of the diverse and delicious range of food that Britain produces. To mark the launch of the seventh British Food Fortnight, the organisers have produced a short film explaining why it is best to buy British food. Seen through the eyes of children, the film can be viewed from the home page of the event’s website Britishfoodfortnight.co.uk.

Restaurants, pubs, tourism attractions, hospitals and staff canteens will again be putting the best of British on their menus. Eight of the largest food service organisations, led by ARAMARK, five major pub groups, all the chef associations and two of the main tourism organisations are all taking part so expect to see an abundance of British food on menus this Autumn.

For the first time the event is focusing in particular on public procurement: the NHS, Ministry of Defence, prison service and all Government departments are being challenged to join the national celebration and put British on their menus during the Fortnight.

The well-established promotions in shops, led by Budgens, are being increased with even more tastings, meet-the-producer events and special offers. All the supermarkets are being invited to expand the British promotions they ran during the event last year and independent stores will be championing local produce on the high street.

Schools are again being invited to bring chefs into the classroom to teach children how to cook and to enter British Food Fortnight’s 'Cook for Life' Challenge, sponsored by Kenwood, for the opportunity to win class sets of cooking equipment.

The event’s network of 9,000 chefs is at the ready to help schools teach children about the delights of our national produce and how to cook. This year they are being joined by retailers who are invited to donate food to schools for cooking lessons and to host school visits in order to teach children how to shop beyond the sweetie shelves. British Food Fortnight continues, therefore, to be the largest volunteer movement educating children about food.

The event’s activities are being given an extra boost by the Department of Health, which has teamed up with British Food Fortnight to promote it’s 5 A DAY Just Eat More (fruit & veg) message to schools and parents.

Commenting on the continuing expansion of the event’s activity, organiser Alexia Robinson says: “Last year the nation’s affection for its national food promotion was summed up by a leading magazine that exclaimed ‘Long Live British Food Fortnight!’. The event’s fan base multiplies every year with more shops, pubs and restaurants running promotions and more schools using the celebrations as an opportunity to teach children about the delights of Britain’s produce.

“This year, the Public Procurement sector is flirting with participation and it will be fascinating to see how many hospitals, prisons, schools and Government departments grasp the mantel and put British food on the menu during British Food Fortnight.”

For more information, visit Britishfoodfortnight.co.uk.