New food and drink festival seeks speciality food and drink producers

Speciality food and drink producers across England are being invited to take part in an exciting new food and drink festival launching in April.

The Loughborough English Food and Drink Festival will be held four times a year – starting with a two-day event on Easter Sunday and Monday, April 24th and 25th.

Run by regional food group East Midlands Fine Foods on behalf of Charnwood Borough Council, the event will feature a market packed with tasty goodies from across the country, bringing together the best traditional English produce from each region.

“Shoppers have a big appetite for regional food and drink, and Loughborough English Food and Drink Festival will bring together Britain’s love of traditional markets with the opportunity for people to buy some excellent regional products,” said East Midlands Fine Foods events co-ordinator Jo Taylor.

“Seasonal entertainment will be on offer, including cooking demonstrations, and we’re hoping to create a great family atmosphere on Easter Sunday and Monday. This is an excellent chance for producers from around the country to sell direct to the public in an area that’s renowned for its interest in all things foodie.

“It’s close to Melton Mowbray, the rural capital of food, and in an area of Leicestershire that’s home to many artisan producers.”

Now East Midlands Fine Foods is inviting applications from across the country from suitable producers who want to be part of the event, which will be staged in Loughborough’s Market Place and feature up to 150 stalls.

The organisation is hoping to recruit firms that produce and sell seasonal fruit and vegetables, speciality and rare breed meat including sausages, cakes, jams, pickles and chutneys, charcuterie, sweet and savoury pies and pastry products, dairy products including cheese, butter, yoghurt and ice-cream, confectionery, beers, wines and ciders, drinks including tea, coffee and soft drinks, plus any other artisan products.

The food and drink festivals are also being planned for June 26th and 27th, August 28th and 29th and October 23rd and 24th – with discounts available for stallholders who book for more than one market.

East Midlands Fine Foods, which is managed by regional business support organisation The Food and Drink Forum, supports speciality food and drink producers across the region.

In conjunction with Nottingham City Council, East Midlands Fine Foods has run the monthly two-day Regional and Speciality Food and Drink Market in Nottingham for almost four years.

For more information please contact Jo Taylor on 0115 9758810 or visit www.eastmidlandsfinefoods.co.uk and scroll down to the Loughborough Food and Drink Festival section.

Nottingham PR consultant Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk