BFF hailed a success
From 17 September to 2 October pubs, restaurants and retail outlets took the opportunity to promote British produce with sales increases reported across the board.
Seven major pub groups took part including Taylor Walker and Mitchells & Butlers as well as retail giants such as BHS.
One licensee, Geoff Holland of the Holly Busy in Salt, Staffordshire, always takes part in the event to shout about his local sourcing all year round. “British Food Fortnight increases business by 12 to 15%, but the real gain is the new customers it brings in and the opportunity to reinforce our quality food message,” he said.
Retailers in St Pancras’s BFF festival also did well with the Betjeman Arms sold out of oysters during its cider and oysters event.
“This year’s event defied the recession and proved that even in the toughest of times the public will rally behind British food if they are given a reason to,” said BFF organiser Alexia Robinson. “We now look ahead to 2012 when, with the Olympics, we have the opportunity of a lifetime to show-off the best of British food to the world.”
TV chef Jamie Oliver added: “In 2012, Britain will be hosting the Olympics for the first time since 1948, and the world will be looking at what we do, and how we do it. We’ve got fantastic food here in Britain and it’s time we celebrated it, especially as we’ll have the eyes of the world on us in 2012.”
Meanwhile, over 40 Punch Taverns pubs are continuing the values of BFF in a month-long pub food festival. The pubs, all in Cornwall and Devon, will follow a different food theme each week in November to celebrate the best of traditional British food and will run through British Sausage Week (1 to 5 November), Pudding Week (14 to 19 November) and Fish Week (21 to 26 November).
“We felt that involving 40 of our pubs from across Cornwall and Devon would be a fantastic opportunity to celebrate what’s great about locally sourced, home grown produce,” said business relationship manager Lisa Smart. ”Building relationships with regional suppliers and farmers supports the local economy and places the pub at the heart of the community which is where they should be.”
