Announcing the move at its flagship AGM and members’ networking supper event, The Forum announced that it hoped to soon unveil a new package of support and a membership offer specifically for the catering and hospitality part of the sector.
Support available will include new training and technical
services and supply chain support, which are designed to help businesses to
grow and develop.
“The Food and Drink Forum has supported organisations across
the sector since it formed in 1998, particularly those in production or
manufacture. Now we will be creating tailored support for those businesses that
focus on hospitality, which we believe will be useful and will encourage more
catering and hospitality outlets to join our organisation,” said managing
director of The Food and Drink Forum, Fiona Anderson.
Around 100 guests attended the AGM and networking supper
event, which was held at Kelham Hall, near Newark. The event attracted members
and associates from across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire,
Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Rutland.
This year’s supper was sponsored and supported by Campden
BRI, the UK's largest independent membership-based organisation carrying
out research and development and providing technical support for the food and
drinks industry worldwide, Clegg Food Projects, a
market leader in providing practical design, engineering and construction
solutions for major food and drink operations, and the Food and Drink iNet,
which is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and run
by a consortium led by The Food and Drink Forum.
“Our AGM and members’ supper is our flagship event of the
year, and once again it was greatly enjoyed by those who attended,” added Fiona
Anderson.
Speakers at the event included James Pogson, director of
Chesterfield-based Northern Tea Merchants, Kamal Dhutia, director at
Leicester-based condiments portion control supplier B I (Europe) Limited, and Phil
Ellis, from Attimo – an East Midlands online market place project which
provides an easy and efficient opportunity for artisan producers and hotels,
restaurants and caterers looking for high quality items to do business with
each other.
For information about joining The Food and Drink Forum or
the new service for the catering and hospitality trade please call 0115
9758810.
Press release issued by Nottingham PR firm Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk