Sourcing campaign is beefed up
The consumer credit crunch is threatening to stall pubs' efforts to give customers more information about the source of food on the menu.
Henry Aubrey-Fletcher, chairman of the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), sounded a warning note at an event in London to mark the first anniversary of the CLA's Just Ask campaign.
The concern is that pubs will source cheaper meat supplies from abroad as competition increases. With consumer confidence weak and disposable income tight, he said the CLA will be inviting representatives from the major pub groups to join a new Just Ask foodservice committee to continue to drive the campaign.
Just Ask aims to support British producers by encouraging consumers to enquire about the source of food on the menu.
Also speaking at the event was Tony Goodger, foodservice trade manager with the Meat & Livestock Commission (MLC), who insisted that the MLC's Menu Transparency campaign is all about informed consumer choice.
"It¹s not about 'buy British', but about being honest," said Goodger.
As good practice, he cited the menu at JD Wetherspoon pubs, which clearly states the origin of meat from different countries, as well as Spirit Group's Chef & Brewer brand named Retail Concept of the Year at the The Publican Pub Food Awards 2007 which focuses on British produce.
However, he cited another pub chain which states on its menus "we have scoured the UK for the best suppliers", but fails to say whether the produce itself actually comes from the UK, as an example of misleading practice, of concern to both the MLC and trading standards departments.
For details on the Just Ask campaign visit www.cla.org.uk
