Business support organisation The Food and Drink Forum stages its annual networking event

Around 85 guests attended the flagship event of business support organisation The Food and Drink Forum. 

Staged at Southwell Racecourse, the annual supper is one of the largest networking events for the East Midlands food and drink sector and attracted delegates from across the region. 

The Food and Drink Forum, which is based at Southglade Food Park, Nottingham, has members across the district, including manufacturers, food service operators and businesses providing services for the food and drink sector. 

The supper heard from several key speakers including Beckie Rowland of bakery giant Greggs who spoke about the recruitment of ex-offenders and the importance of this within the community. 

Oliver Brown from Derbyshire family firm Bluebells Real Dairy Ice Cream also spoke about the difficulties milk farmers face and farm diversification as a solution to this. 

He also added that the Food and Drink Forum had played a vital role in helping his company to achieve SALSA approval allowing them to expand to sell to the National Trust. 

Other speakers included Dips Patel from Loughborough-based Mistry and Co. who spoke of their mission to use food to educate and inspire others. 

Key industry figures from across Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire and Rutland attended the event which also featured displays by Nottingham Trent University, The Federation of Small Businesses, Chemex and From The Notebook Ltd. 

Food and Drink Forum chairman Peter Knight said that the food and drink sector had faced an interesting and exciting year, speaking in particular of the success of the Leicester Food Park, with the Forum having recently secured the management of the park in a joint bid with the Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce. 

He said: “I am very pleased with how the first members’ supper at Southwell Racecourse has gone. The evening has been a great success with members’ produce enjoyed by around 85 guests and thought-provoking speeches.” 

Peter Knight also thanked the Local Enterprise Partnership D2N2 for helping the Forum move forward once again. 

Chairman of D2N2 Peter Richardson said the Food and Drink sector was key in creating new jobs. 

He said: “The Food and Drink Forum are vital in providing businesses in the private sector with everything they need to drive themselves forward. 

“In the East Midlands we are at the heart of the UK’s economy and we need to strive to be at the heart of Europe’s too. However, to do this the private sector needs a voice, and the Food and Drink Forum offers companies that voice.” 

The Food and Drink Forum was founded in 1988 as a not-for-profit, membership-led organisation to stimulate and support the sustainable growth and development of the food and drink industry in the East Midlands. 

Its aims include championing the food and drink sector in the East Midlands, developing strategic influencing partnerships within and outside the East Midlands, and acting as a centre for information and knowledge on all subjects relating to the food and drink sector in the region. 

It also aims to stimulate and facilitate sustainable change within companies of all sizes across the food chain, generate income and secure resources to meet the needs of a high-quality service, and promote the food and drink sector to future employees through education and the raising of skills. 

For more information please visit www.foodanddrinkforum.co.uk

The photo shows, left to right Oliver Brown, from Bluebells Real Dairy Ice Cream, Dips Patel and Parisha Mistry, both from Mistry and Co, and Peter Knight, Food and Drink Forum chairman.

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Food and Drink Forum helps Leicester firm secure Oxford Street deal

Lucy Cufflin

Leicester food producer Lucy’s Food has won a contract to supply tray bakes to a flagship Oxford Street store after taking part in a project run by The Food and Drink Forum.

The Leicester Food Specialist project provides two days of free support to eligible food and drink manufacturers in specific parts of the city in a bid to help the food and drink sector develop and grow.

Cake maker Lucy’s Food turned to business support organisation The Food and Drink Forum for advice and mentoring about how the firm could gain a recognised industry accreditation which would open doors with much bigger customers.

It led to the company winning an order to supply a range of cakes to two cafés in the Debenhams Oxford Street branch. It is the company’s first national order and the firm’s biggest order to date.

Lucy Cufflin, who runs the business, said: “It’s been an incredible journey forward for our business. It’s a big step because this means we can look at getting orders from much bigger customers that we haven’t been able to approach before. Richard Wigley, the senior technical manager at The Food and Drink Forum, has been someone from outside telling us how it will work on a different scale.

“The Leicester Food Specialist project has been a great opportunity to realise what The Food and Drink Forum can do for us in an on-going relationship. Rather than trying to invent it ourselves all the time we can go to them for help.

“The Debenhams order is a regular large scale order coming in which means we can employ more full-time people and look to purchase more equipment.”

The £94,500 Leicester Food Specialist project is being funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), which is providing more than 60% of the cost of the scheme, The Food and Drink Forum, and Leicester City Council through the Working Neighbourhood Fund.

The service, which runs until December 2014, is offering two free days of support to start-ups, micro businesses and small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises in the food and drink sector in the city centre area. This could cover a range of support from technical advice and packaging services to marketing, help with new routes to market or accreditation.

The two days of support is for a maximum of 25 companies and there are eligibility criteria for those taking part.

Lucy’s Food has been operating in the Leicester area since 2006, producing and supplying a variety of food products to local delis and cafés, but more recently the firm, which has premises in Putney Road West, has been concentrating on its popular tray bakes and cakes. It is currently supplying Sam's rocky road brownies, Leicestershire honey flapjack and orange, almond and mascarpone cake to Debenhams.

Trained chef Lucy Cufflin is the author of the cookbook, Lucy’s Food.

Her firm is one of 15 companies that have already got involved in the Leicester Food Specialist project.

“We are very pleased to hear that Lucy’s Food has won this deal with Debenhams after taking part in the Leicester Food Specialist project and being given advice and support by The Food and Drink Forum’s team of experts,” said Forum general manager Fay Davies.

“Our role is to support food and drink businesses across the region and beyond with their development. The Leicester Food Specialist project is just one area that we are working in at the moment, and it’s great to see that the project is already achieving results.”

The next event being held for eligible firms focuses on labelling and branding and takes place on Thursday 17th October at Leicester College between 8am and 9.30am. It is also open to Food and Drink Forum members.

For more details about the Leicester Food Specialist project, eligibility and the next event, email enquiries@foodanddrinkforum.co.uk or call 01159 758810.

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Laundry and workwear specialist Giltbrook Workwear Rental wins food firm contract

Derbyshire-based Giltbrook Workwear Rental has won its largest contract in the food and drink sector after being appointed by cooked meat products manufacturer Loscoe Chilled Foods Ltd. 

The Ilkeston-based laundry and workwear specialist has been awarded a 36-month contract to supply and launder food trade white coats, boilersuits and other items for the company, which employs 230 staff at its Loscoe premises.

The contract involves dealing with 1,850 garments in circulation at any one time and the laundering of 300 items per day to ensure that Loscoe staff have clean garments at the start of every shift.

Giltbrook Workwear Rental, part of Giltbrook Cleaners, specialises in providing the highly regulated food grade cleaning, laundry and hygiene services that are demanded by the food and drink industry to comply with strict safety and hygiene legislation.

Two years ago the firm introduced an innovative system on its website to allow customers to log in and track garments in real time at any point of the day. All workwear supplied by the company is barcode labelled and holds a radio frequency identification chip which allows speedy tracking of workwear through the laundry plant from booking in to dispatch.

Both systems were supported by the Food and Drink iNet, which is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), and Giltbrook CEO Chris Jackson believes these innovations have helped the firm to win a number of new contracts, including the Loscoe Chilled Foods Ltd appointment.

“We have invested in the latest technology which means that at a moment’s notice, clients can check what stage any garment is at and gather all the necessary information,” said Chris Jackson.

“The information is there, 24 hours a day. It represents a leap forward for us in terms of customer service, and is very beneficial to firms working in the food and drink industry, which need to have evidence of efficient cleaning and hygiene standards to comply with stringent laws governing their operation.

“We are very pleased to have secured the contract to supply and service workwear for Loscoe Chilled Foods. Like us, they are a business committed to their local area and we are proud that we are playing a part in keeping their operation running smoothly by maintaining the cleaning of the staff uniforms, on a quick turnaround, with flexible approach to react quickly to their changing needs in the food production process.” 

The uniforms are serviced at Giltbrook Cleaners’ unit at Mercian Close, Manners Industrial Estate, Ilkeston, which has a rainwater harvesting, water recycling and reusing system, a high-efficiency hot water generation boiler, and the latest garment conveyor systems and monitoring through barcode and high- frequency micro chip technology.

The unit also has specialist hygiene management systems. Giltbrook Cleaners is a family-run business, which has been operating for more than 65 years and employs 41 people. Its clients include companies working in a range of sectors such as food and drink, engineering, hospitality, pharmaceutical and transport.

The contract with Loscoe Chilled Foods Ltd is worth more than £30,000 a year to the company, which recently gained supplier approval status from the 3M Health Care division. It involves selecting appropriate uniforms for food environments, adding a corporate logo and introducing a laundry management programme which includes daily collection of used workwear from Loscoe’s two sites and delivery of clean uniforms, which in the case of high care items are sealed in polythene, to eight locker locations.

Regular microbiological swabbing of garments and allergen management systems are carried out by Giltbrook to test that hygiene security is being maintained and the results are uploaded to the web portal at www.giltbrookworkwear.co.uk

Loscoe Chilled Foods technical manager Mark Curry said: “We've been delighted with Giltbrook Cleaners and the seamless way they have taken on the contract and worked with our staff. The quality of the garments, cleanliness and the aftercare service has made a big difference to our staff and feedback has been excellent. We are a lot more confident going forward with the BRC audits knowing we have online access to our workwear management information at a click of a button.”

Giltbrook Cleaners, which is a leading supplier in workwear rental and cleaning, mat provision and cleaning, locker and washroom services across the East Midlands and beyond, is committed to supporting standards in the food industry and later this month hosts an event run by industry organisation The Food and Drink Forum.

BRC One Year On takes place on September 26th from 7.45am to 10am and will hear from companies that already have the BRC standard in place. It is aimed at firms considering implementing BRC or those who would like to understand more about it.

It will be chaired by Food and Drink Forum senior technical manager Richard Wigley.

www.giltbrookworkwear.co.uk

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Food and Drink Forum turns the spotlight on BRC accreditation

East Midlands food manufacturers are being urged to attend a free event focusing on accreditation in the wake of news that one of the major supermarkets will be carrying out unannounced audits on the producers of their brand food products.

Trade organisation The Food and Drink Forum annually stages an event which turns the spotlight on the BRC (British Retail Consortium) standards.

These accreditations are a benchmark in quality standards and are required by many retailers before they will stock a manufacturer’s products.

Last year The Forum staged a BRC Unravelled event to give East Midlands food and drink manufacturers more information about the standard and the developments which occurred with the introduction of issue 6.

This year it is running a free follow-up event on September 26th from 7.45am to 10am in conjunction with Giltbrook Workwear at Giltbrook Workwear’s premises in Ilkeston, Derbyshire. It will focus on activity surrounding the certification since the introduction of changes (issue six) last year.

“This event is especially pertinent, since ASDA announced in June that from October 1st 2013, all manufacturers of ASDA brand food products must have their BRC audits undertaken as ‘unannounced option 1’ which means that manufacturers need to be ready at any time for an audit,” said Food and Drink Forum senior technical manager Richard Wigley.

“I would strongly advise East Midlands food manufacturers to attend our free event on September 26th to find out more about BRC and other food standards such as SALSA.”

The event will provide an insight into BRC and other food standards, information on cost-saving skills and tools, expert advice from The Food and Drink Forum senior technical manager, the chance to understand how organisations like Giltbrook Workwear, Surepak Ltd and The Sherwood Press Group can help with equipment and services to maintain BRC standards.

If you have BRC or are looking to achieve it, having a supply chain of BRC certified companies provides traceability and easier management of your BRC certification.

This event also provides the opportunity to tour Giltbrook’s premises, a high quality work wear facility.

It is aimed at food and drink manufacturers in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Rutland who are considering implementing BRC, SALSA or another food standard, who have BRC and would like to discuss any issues, or who would like more information about accreditation.

Places are free for food and drink producers and manufacturers and can be booked by emailing enquiries@foodanddrinkforum.co.uk

The Food and Drink Forum was launched in 1998, and operates across the East Midlands as a business support organisation for the food and drink sector. It is based at Southglade Food Park, Nottingham.

For more information visit www.foodanddrinkforum.co.uk

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Food and Drink Forum to launch new services for the catering and hospitality trade

One of the East Midlands’ key business support organisations, The Food and Drink Forum, has revealed that it is to launch a new service aimed at helping firms in the catering and hospitality trade.

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. 

www.foodanddrinkforum.co.uk

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Food and Drink Forum hosts SALSA approval scheme event

Business organisation the Food and Drink Forum played a part in ensuring that the SALSA approval scheme for small food and drink producers continues to run successfully.

The Forum sponsored and hosted an event to give the annual CPD – continuous professional development – session to a group of auditors from across the Midlands.

The IFST auditors are responsible for checking food and drink firms have the required standards in place before they are awarded the SALSA accreditation, which stands for Safe and Local Supplier Approval.

A food-safety standard written by experienced food safety experts to reflect both the legal requirements of producers and the enhanced expectations of 'best practice' of professional food buyers, SALSA certification is only granted to suppliers who are able to demonstrate to an auditor that they are able to produce safe and legal food and are committed to continually meeting the requirements of the SALSA standard.

The group of six auditors, including the Food and Drink Forum’s senior technical manager Richard Wigley, who is a SALSA auditor, were hosted at the Business Centre, Southglade Food Park, Nottingham, where the Forum is based.

“It was the first time we’d sponsored and hosted the CPD training at Southglade, and everyone seemed impressed with the facilities. We will probably hold it at Southglade again next year, as it’s in an ideal location and is the perfect place to focus on all things food and safety related,” said Richard, who is also a mentor for the SALSA scheme.

The CPD session updated auditors and also focused on how to achieve consistency.

The Food and Drink Forum was founded in 1998 as a not-for-profit, membership-led organisation to stimulate and support the sustainable growth and development of the food and drink industry in the East Midlands. It has members across the region.

Pictured, left to right, Richard Wigley, the Food and Drink Forum’s senior technical manager, and CPD trainer Sarah Jackaman.

 www.foodanddrinkforum.co.uk 

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Food and Drink Forum stages Meet the Buyer event

Specialist food and drink producers from across the East Midlands are being invited to take part in an event to showcase their products to buyers in the independent pub trade, catering, hospitality and retail sectors.

Trade association The Food and Drink Forum has teamed up with Everards Brewery to stage the Meet the Buyer event on June 5th at The Griffin Inn, Swithland, in Leicestershire.

It offers the opportunity for producers to promote their food and drink to potential new customers, and at the same time the chance for buyers to discover the latest trends in catering, source new ingredients and gain ideas for revamping their recipes and menus.

The event runs from 10am to 4pm and includes exhibition stands, cookery demonstrations, company presentations, as well as lunch and networking opportunities.

It is being organised as part of the Leicester Food Specialist project, which is providing business support to food and drink manufacturers in Leicester. The Meet the Buyer event, however, is open to food and drink producers and to buyers from the independent pub trade, and the catering, hospitality and retail sectors, from across the East Midlands.

“Meet the Buyer events are an excellent way for producers to showcase their products and for buyers to source new suppliers,” said Fiona Anderson, managing director of the Food and Drink Forum.

“We’re very pleased to be working with Everards Brewery on this event, and hope that both producers and buyers will seize the opportunity to come together for their mutual benefit.”

The event is free to attend for buyers. Food and drink producers in certain areas of Leicester that are part of the Leicester Food Specialist project can also attend free of charge. Contact the Food and Drink Forum for details about eligibility.

The cost of attendance for members of the Food and Drink Forum is £30 plus vat. Other food and drink suppliers can attend the day’s event for £60 plus vat. Places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

For more information or to book, please email enquiries@foodanddrinkforum.co.uk or call 0115 9758810. 

The Leicester Food Project is being run by the Food and Drink Forum, and is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Food and Drink Forum and Leicester City Council through the Working Neighbourhood Fund.

Visit www.foodanddrinkforum.co.uk

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New trade orders for Leicestershire coffee supplier Cherizena

East Midlands-based coffee producer Cherizena is celebrating a string of new trade orders after introducing new labelling equipment.

The company has won contracts to supply branded coffee to a number of new clients including a national financial organisation, regional farm shops and independent stores, coffee shops and individual firms across the UK.

The coffee is being bagged in different-sized packs with tailor-made labels for the customers, who are then using them as promotional material, as part of hospitality services or selling them as a branded product.

In addition, Cherizena has recently picked up a new contract caterer customer.

The new business has totalled more than £6,000 over the past six months.

“We are delighted with how much extra business we have generated as a result of investing in our new labelling printer and by increasing our sales efforts, which included exhibiting at the Federation of Small Businesses’ conference in Leicester in March,” said Kate Jones, who runs Cherizena, which is based at Wartnaby near Melton Mowbray.

“The labelling equipment has given us the flexibility to supply all our coffees in our clients’ branded packaging, ranging from 60g sachets up to larger packs.

A lot of companies are looking for something eye-catching and useful that they can give away as a promotional tool at events and so on, and branded coffee fits the bill perfectly.

“Exhibiting at the FSB conference in Leicester really helped us to promote ourselves and the services we offer to companies from across the UK.”

Cherizena, which produces and supplies premium, speciality and flavoured coffees, invested in the new equipment, as well as a new webshop, in the summer of 2012.

It was supported by the Food and Drink iNet, which is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and run by business organisation the Food and Drink Forum.

The iNet provided a match-funded grant of just over £3,000 to help with the innovation.

Since then, Cherizena has embarked on a sales and promotion effort to raise awareness of the company’s products and services.

“We have supplied branded coffees to trade customers for some time but the new equipment has given us much more flexibility and improved the quality of the labels,” said Kate.

“We expect that these latest orders will help us to increase turnover significantly over the next few months.”

One of Cherizena’s latest trade customers is 5* country house accommodation and event venue Vale House Belvoir, near Grantham, which has ordered sachets of ‘Vale House Belvoir’ coffee for its bedrooms and plans to provide personalised coffee for special occasions.

“Guests really appreciate the personalised and individual touches, and we were very pleased to find a local coffee supplier that could provide high quality coffees in Vale House Belvoir branding that we could put in our guest bedrooms and also personalise for special occasions such as birthday parties, weddings or hen parties,” said host Lara Young.

Cherizena sells to consumers, via mail order and at fairs and events, and to trade customers, including retailers, caterers and others in the hospitality trade.

It produces more than 20 flavoured coffees and also offers around 30 single-origin coffees and blends. It can supply coffee as beans or ground, regular or decaffeinated.

For more information about Cherizena contact 01664 820111 or visit www.cherizena.co.uk

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Food and Drink iNet grant helps apple snack idea to evolve

A Leicestershire company has developed a crunchy new apple snack using fruit that would previously have gone to waste, thanks to a grant from the Food and Drink iNet.

Omniceutica Limited has invented a process which transforms pulp from cider making, as well as surplus, ungraded or bruised fruit, into bite-sized servings.

The firm, based at Asfordby Business Park, near Melton Mowbray, was awarded almost £10,000 from the Food and Drink iNet under a Collaborate to Innovate project to develop the concept.

Part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and run by trade organisation the Food and Drink Forum, the iNet aims to encourage innovation in the East Midlands food and drink sector.

Glen Martyn, director at Omniceutica said: “We are converting a freely available resource that is currently seen as waste from the fruit processing and cider industries into a nutritious and commercially viable snack. The amount of food wasted throughout the food industry is of huge financial and environmental concern so the timing of this innovation is right.”

Jo Murphy, an advisor with the Food and Drink iNet, said that tackling waste and finding alternative uses for by-products in the food and drink sector was a key target for the industry.

“The Food and Drink iNet has funded a number of projects under its Collaborate to Innovate programme which focus on positive ways of reducing waste in the sector,” she said. “Omniceutica has come up with an inventive way of creating a new product using ingredients that would previously have been thrown away.

“The technology will also benefit small and medium-sized enterprises in the East Midlands, such as cider makers and other producers, who could now have a productive outlet for some of their waste products – saving money on disposal costs and creating additional revenue.”

Omniceutica is a specialist product developer and offers other services through its consultancy. One of its specialist areas is in food, offering its research and development services to companies, ranging from start-ups through to larger global organisations.

Omniceutica develops and produces pilot-scale production batches to test ideas and concepts in readiness for commercial scale up.

The iNet grant has funded work to source ingredients and develop a new drying process that is less energy intensive and retains more nutrients than conventional systems.

The work has also involved experts from the University of Nottingham carrying out initial analysis of the snack’s nutrient content.

Omniceutica is exploring patent issues before the product is prepared for marketing and sale through licensing agreements to larger manufacturers.

Since the company was formed in 2010, its staff have collaborated with clients locally, nationally and around the world. It also works with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and has substantial expertise in intellectual property and patents.

The Food and Drink iNet, is managed by a consortium, led by the Food and Drink Forum and including Nottingham Trent University, the University of Lincoln, and The University of Nottingham.

It is based at Southglade Food Park, Nottingham, with advisors covering the East Midlands region to offer a range of support to small and medium-sized enterprises that work in the sector.

For more information about the Food and Drink iNet visit www.foodanddrink-inet.org.uk

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Food and Drink Forum welcomes latest news on Southglade Food Park expansion

Trade organisation The Food and Drink Forum has welcomed news that the expansion of a pioneering food and drink business park is a step closer today.

The Forum played a key role in planning and developing the first phase of Southglade Food Park in Nottingham which opened in 2005 and was the first business park of its kind in the UK.

It has since managed the on-site Business Centre and services for the park, which is home to six food manufacturers.

Now Nottingham City Council has announced support for Southglade phase 2 by agreeing to pay £1.67 million of the £6 million expansion plan.

The funding approval is a key step in enabling additional finances of £4.254 million to be released from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

The plan is to build additional quality food grade industrial units next to the phase one development, which has a waiting list of food and drink manufacturers keen to move in. This would double the size of the food park.

It is expected to create at least 90 jobs in the food and drink sector, as well as jobs during construction.

Food and Drink Forum managing director Fiona Anderson said: “Since opening in 2005, Southglade Food Park has been a great success, and it is excellent news that Southglade phase 2 has support from the city council.

“Expansion of the food park will provide additional high grade manufacturing units for food and drink producers and help to create new job opportunities for the area. We have had a waiting list of firms keen to move onto Southglade for some time, and I am sure they will welcome the news too.

“As the first food and drink business park of its kind in the UK, Southglade has acted as a blueprint for similar schemes across the country and in other parts of the world, such as Malaysia – helping to put Nottingham on the map for its pioneering food and drink sector – and if phase 2 gets the go-ahead it can only strengthen the city’s position as an attractive place for food and drink manufacturers to launch and develop.”

Southglade phase 1 is home to a range of different-sized food grade manufacturing units designed for firms at different stages of development.

The on-site Business Centre includes a new product development kitchen, meeting rooms and other facilities available to tenants and others in the sector.

It is hoped that the enlarged development will create a regionally significant business cluster in the food and drink sector, enabling Nottingham to attract new business and foster growth in the sector to benefit the regional economy.

Councillor Graham Chapman, deputy leader of Nottingham City Council said: “This scheme creates at least 90 local jobs and even more in the construction of the units, helps the manufacturing industry and will bring a financial return for the council of just over £125,000 a year when our ERDF application is approved. It is an excellent deal all around.”

Food manufacturing is the UK’s largest manufacturing sector. For more information visit www.foodanddrinkforum.co.uk


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Shortlist announced for the 2012 Food and Drink iNet Innovation Awards

The Food and Drink Forum, organisers of the 2012 Food and Drink iNet Innovation Awards have unveiled the names of the shortlisted candidates in the running to receive an accolade.

The candidates include businesses and universities around the East Midlands.

The winners will be revealed at an awards ceremony at Athena in Leicester on November 15th, hosted by comedian Ian Moore.

Food and Drink iNet director Richard Worrall said: “We had a record number of entries this year to the Food and Drink iNet Innovation Awards, which reflects the exciting research, development and business growth going on in the East Midlands food and drink sector.

“We are looking forward to hosting the awards ceremony, which has become one of the highlights of the calendar for the industry in the region. I am sure it will be inspirational to hear about the very different forms that innovation can take.”

This year there are four categories in the Food and Drink iNet Innovation Awards – with the overall winner being named Campden BRI Innovation Champion 2012.

The shortlisted nominations are as follows:

The Clegg Food Projects Ltd Most Innovative Business Growth Award

• Dovedale Foods Ltd, St John Street, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, with a production unit at Southglade Food Park, Nottingham. The firm has been shortlisted for its creation of Agile Manufacturing (a term applied to an organisation that has created the processes, tools, and training to enable it to respond quickly to customer needs and market changes while still controlling costs and quality) to support the scaling up of manufacture of Dovedale's Sauces for Choice brand, with capacity to offer short-run production to other local small enterprises struggling with the capacity requirements of larger contract manufacturers.

• Original Recipes, Boythorpe Business Park, Dock Walk, Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The firm has used an old recipe and given it a modern twist to create Granny Mary’s Finest Potted Beef, and has used the same ethos to drive the company’s project growth by getting chosen as one of the final 18 in the new BBC3 series Be Your Own Boss. This gives the firm the opportunity to broaden contacts and experience, enabling the maximisation of marketing and promotion of the business in a relatively short period of time.

  • The Bottle Kicking Cider Company, Hallaton, Market Harborough, Leicestershire. The company has been shortlisted for the conversion of metallised bags, previously used in the wine industry, to enable creation of a draught real cider that fulfils the CAMRA criteria, that can be stored and used from the bag whilst keeping the airtight vacuum to prevent spoilage and improve shelf life.

The Nottingham Trent University Most Innovative New Product Development Award

• Moonshine Drinks Ltd, Fairview Court, West Bridgford, Nottingham. The enterprise has developed a revolutionary home brew system to create quality real ales by simply adding tap water into the unique laminated bag to achieve ABV of 4%+.

• The Gourmet Spice Company, Kettering Road, Weldon, Northamptonshire. The firm has been shortlisted for challenging traditional flavour delivery techniques to create flavour combinations that are both innovative and exciting. This has enabled Gourmet Spice to develop products that deliver multi-sensory experiences.

• Xcel Milk Nutrition Ltd, Coton Road, Walton on Trent, Derbyshire. The company has been shortlisted for the development of a unique fresh milk-based post-exercise drink, after working with sports nutrition experts and applying existing research in sports recovery.

Most Innovative Positive Impact Award

• Deli Continental Ltd, Pintail Close, Victoria Business Park, Netherfield, Nottingham. This project focused on achieving the very best nutritional values in Deli Continental’s pizza bases, initially with salt reduction, whilst ensuring the authenticity of their artisan production methods. Collaboration with the University of Nottingham has resulted in a product that has already raised interest with local county council schools.

• Lindhurst Innovation Engineers, Midland Road, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire. Founded on anaerobic digestion, the H2AD technology that Lindhurst has developed in collaboration with the University of Nottingham and Arla Foods is based around a microbial food cell that allows bacteria in food waste to digest quicker and produce a hydrogen rich biogas.

• Nutbrook Brewery, Hallam Way, West Hallam, Derbyshire. The company has invested in a wind turbine and some solar panels to create electricity for the brewery and to reduce controllable costs whilst having a positive impact on the environment and the firm’s carbon footprint. Nutbrook Brewery hopes to also inspire other small businesses to follow suit and embrace the benefits of environmental responsibility.

Most Innovative Collaboration Award

• Biopolymer Solutions Ltd, Sutton Bonington Campus of the University of Nottingham, near Loughborough, Leicestershire. Research at the University of Nottingham discovered that the properties of xanthan gum could be changed by extrusion cooking. Collaboration between the University of Nottingham and Biopolymer Solutions has enabled funding to support the ongoing trials into the range of applications of the new material, hydraxan, which reduces issues of poor xanthan dispersion.

• Just Egg Ltd, Hilltop Road, Hamilton Industrial Park, Leicester. By working in collaboration with the University of Leicester, with support from the Food and Drink iNet, Just Egg has been exploring a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable way of disposing of the firm’s egg shell waste. The company is now well on its way to using the egg shells in the reformulation of plastic to make recycled packaging to protect their egg-based products.

• The University of Northampton and the University of Nottingham. This collaboration of the Universities of Northampton and Nottingham with Stichelton Dairy in north Nottinghamshire focused on the aroma development and influence of secondary microflora in blue cheese production to enable an understanding of the variants that can influence the consistency of cheese production.

Tickets are now on sale for the ceremony to present the Innovation Awards, which are being held for the fifth year, and which recognise and reward the brightest ideas in the East Midlands’ food and drink sector.

Part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Food and Drink iNet co-ordinates innovation support for businesses, universities and individuals working in the food and drink sector in the East Midlands.

It has developed an effective network to encourage the collaboration of academic expertise and knowledge, and local food and drink business innovation needs.

It aims to build on the tradition of innovation in the food and drink industry in the region by helping to create opportunities to develop knowledge and skills, and to help research, develop and implement new products, markets, services and processes.

The Food and Drink iNet is managed by a consortium, led by The Food and Drink Forum and including Nottingham Trent University, the University of Lincoln, and the University of Nottingham. It is based at Southglade Food Park, Nottingham, with advisors covering the East Midlands region.

For more information about the iNet visit www.foodanddrink-inet.org.uk Tickets for the Innovation Awards cost £69.50 plus vat per person, with discounts for members of the Food and Drink Forum, and are available by contacting the events team on 0115 9758810.

Some sponsoring, table hosting and exhibiting opportunities are still available for the event. Contact the events team for details.

www.foodanddrink-inet.org.uk

Issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Catering and Hospitality Expo for the East Midlands food and drink sector

Organisers of a trade show dedicated to the East Midlands food and drink sector say they have been bowled over by the enthusiasm of the region’s food and drink industry.

Catering and Hospitality Expo is taking place in Nottingham for the first time on September 19th and 20th.

Aimed at introducing those in the hospitality trade to new suppliers, the event is targeted at trade visitors only and is expected to feature more than 90 exhibitors.

The organisers of the event, Consortium of Events and Tourism Limited, have teamed up with regional business support organisation The Food and Drink Forum, who have helped recruit exhibitors from across Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, Rutland and Northamptonshire to the regional section of the show and also as general exhibitors.

“There’s been a real spark in Nottingham,” said a spokesman for the Consortium of Events and Tourism Limited. “There’s a real buzz that we haven’t seen for a while.

“We have been bowled over by the enthusiasm from local suppliers. Last time we had this much excitement was the first ever event in Blackpool, which saw over 4,000 attendees and we see no reason why Nottingham can’t exceed this. Nottingham has excelled itself and we are really looking forward to the show.

“It shows that despite the recession and tough times, hospitality is still alive and kicking in Nottingham.”

The two-day event at Nottingham Racecourse, Colwick, is expected to appeal to those who run restaurants, cafés, bars, pubs, clubs, guest houses, hotels and other hospitality and catering outlets, as well as large organisations that run canteens and provide food for staff and visitors.

It is the perfect chance for those in the catering and hospitality trade to source new ideas, products and suppliers, said Fiona Anderson, managing director of The Food and Drink Forum.

The Food and Drink Forum, which is based at Southglade Food Park, Nottingham, and operates across the East Midlands, is managing the area that showcases regional products.

Catering and Hospitality Expo has been held at various venues around the UK over a number of years, and has attracted thousands of trade visitors from across the country, but this is the first time that it has been held in Nottingham.

Exhibitors are expected to include local and national companies, food service providers, catering companies, equipment suppliers, restaurants, hotels, hospitality organisations, top chefs, industry services and manufacturers and producers wanting to sell into the catering and hospitality sector.

Entry to the event is free for those in the food and drink industry.

Collections will be taken for the Children’s Air Ambulance.

www.foodanddrinkforum.co.uk

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Packaging event for East Midlands food and drink firms

Business support organisation The Food and Drink Forum is teaming up with the Sherwood Press Group to turn the spotlight on the latest innovations in board packaging.

Aimed at food and drink companies across the East Midlands, the event will explore new packaging board options, sustainable wrappings and the issue of ink migration.

It will also provide delegates with the chance to quiz packaging and technical experts from The Food and Drink Forum about the role of packaging in new product development and the support available to help with packaging.

“This event will give a unique insight into packaging for those in the food and drink sector, and we are pleased to be joining forces with the Sherwood Press Group to offer this session not only to our members but also to others in the industry in the East Midlands,” said Lisa Unwin, the Forum’s membership and marketing manager.

“Understanding the packaging process can make a huge difference to unit costs and product success, and we hope this event will provide food and drink companies with the latest information, knowledge and thinking in this area.”

The event on Wednesday September 5th is free to attend and starts at 8.45am at the Sherwood Press Group premises in Glaisdale Drive West, Nottingham. It will include presentations, a factory tour and networking over lunch.

The Sherwood Press Group is at the forefront of environmental packaging innovation and, amongst other things, will be highlighting its Pura® sustainable packaging.

The Food and Drink Forum, which is based at Southglade Food Park, Nottingham, has members across the region, including manufacturers, food service operators, and consultants and businesses providing services to the food and drink sector.

It was founded in 1998 as a not-for-profit, membership-led organisation to stimulate and support the sustainable growth and development of the food and drink industry in the East Midlands.

Its aims include championing the food and drink sector in the East Midlands, developing strategic influencing partnerships within and outside the East Midlands, and acting as a centre for information and knowledge on all subjects relating to the food and drink sector in the region. It also aims to stimulate and facilitate sustainable change within companies of all sizes across the food chain, generate income and secure resources to meet the needs of a high-quality service, and promote the food and drink sector to future employees through education and the raising of skills.

For more information about the event or to book contact The Food and Drink Forum on 0115 9758810.

Issued by Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Catering and Hospitality Expo sets up in Nottingham

A trade show dedicated to the food and drink sector is coming to Nottingham for the first time in September.

Catering and Hospitality Expo is expected to feature more than 90 exhibitors and draw visitors from across the country.

Staged at Nottingham Racecourse, Colwick, on September 19th and 20th, the event is open to trade representatives only and is the ideal opportunity for East Midlands food and drink companies to promote their products to a relevant audience.

It is also the perfect chance for those in the catering and hospitality trade to source new ideas, products and suppliers, said Fiona Anderson, managing director of East Midlands business support organisation The Food and Drink Forum.

The Food and Drink Forum, which is based at Southglade Food Park, Nottingham, and operates across the East Midlands, is teaming up with the organisers of the event, Consortium of Events and Tourism Limited, to recruit exhibitors from Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, Rutland and Northamptonshire to the regional section of the show and also as general exhibitors.

The Forum will also be managing the area that showcases regional products, and is appealing for interested manufacturers and companies to come forward.

“Catering and Hospitality Expo has been held at various venues around the UK over a number of years, and has attracted thousands of trade visitors,” said Fiona. “This is the first time that it has been held in Nottingham. It’s a great opportunity for our members and others in the regional food and drink sector to put their products in front of restaurants, hospitality organisations and catering companies.”

Exhibitors are expected to include local and national companies, food service providers, catering companies, equipment suppliers, restaurants, hotels, hospitality organisations, top chefs, industry services and manufacturers and producers wanting to sell into the catering and hospitality sector.

“There are plans to make this an annual event in Nottingham so attendees and exhibitors have the chance to be part of it from the start,” said Lisa Unwin, membership and marketing manager at The Food and Drink Forum.

“The response we have received already from companies wanting to exhibit has been brilliant. It’s great to see so many producers from our area making the most of an opportunity to showcase what the region has to offer. We hope that the Catering and Hospitality Expo 2012 will help to develop supply chains between the manufacturing and hospitality industries and would encourage all attendees to drop by the regional area to sample some tasty treats.”

Entry to the September event is free for those in the food and drink industry. Collections will be taken for the Children’s Air Ambulance.

For more information about booking a stand, contact The Food and Drink Forum on 0115 9758810 or email enquiries@foodanddrinkforum.co.uk

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Business support organisation The Food and Drink Forum stages its AGM and networking event

More than 120 guests attended the flagship event of business support organisation The Food and Drink Forum.

The annual general meeting and networking supper attracted delegates linked to the food and drink sector from across the East Midlands.

Sponsored by Pork Farms and The Food and Drink iNet, the event was held at Kelham Hall, near Newark, and included the AGM, presentations by Ian Noakes, of Dovedale Foods, and Dave Harrison, operations director at Everards Brewery, and a networking supper which featured a range of regional food and drink.

Key industry figures from across Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire and Rutland attended the event, which also featured displays by Nottingham-based Pork Farms, Nottingham Trent University, Leicestershire-based Integrated Food Projects, The Food and Drink Forum and The Food and Drink iNet.

“Our annual general meeting and networking supper is our flagship event of the year, and we were delighted to welcome so many people from the industry to this year’s event,” said Food and Drink Forum managing director Fiona Anderson. “It was the perfect opportunity for those connected to the food and drink sector in the East Midlands to network, make contacts and to find out about the latest trends and information for our industry.”

During the AGM, Board chairman Peter Knight thanked Mike Adams, of Frontier Agriculture, Lincoln, who has stood down from The Board after eight years. He welcomed Pankaj Pancholi, managing director of Leicester firm Just Egg, who has now joined The Board.

Andy Napthine, head of marketing at Pork Farms, one of the sponsors of the event, said: “For us, it was the opportunity to work with the broader food industry in the East Midlands and really help to pull the industry together a bit more and share the latest thinking and share the challenges and the opportunities as we work through what is a difficult economic environment at the moment.”

The Food and Drink Forum, which is based at Southglade Food Park, Nottingham, has members across the region, including manufacturers, food service operators, and consultants and businesses providing services to the food and drink sector.

It was founded in 1998 as a not-for-profit, membership-led organisation to stimulate and support the sustainable growth and development of the food and drink industry in the East Midlands. Its aims include championing the food and drink sector in the East Midlands, developing strategic influencing partnerships within and outside the East Midlands, and acting as a centre for information and knowledge on all subjects relating to the food and drink sector in the region.

It also aims to stimulate and facilitate sustainable change within companies of all sizes across the food chain, generate income and secure resources to meet the needs of a high-quality service, and promote the food and drink sector to future employees through education and the raising of skills.

For information about membership please call 0115 9758810 or visit www.foodanddrinkforum.co.uk

The photo shows, left to right, Andy Napthine, head of marketing at Pork Farms, which was one of the sponsors of the AGM and networking supper, Food and Drink Forum managing director Fiona Anderson, and Richard Worrall, director of the Food and Drink iNet, which also sponsored the event.

Issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Free advice on winning contracts available to East Midlands companies

Tops tips on tender writing for public sector contracts will be available for East Midlands businesses at a free seminar later this month.

The workshop is the second of three sessions being run to help small and medium-sized companies to learn the secret of success when it comes to bidding for public sector contracts.

Open to all sectors and to businesses across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland, the workshops are being delivered by specialist consultants who have a proven track record of supporting businesses across a variety of sectors.

The programme is being run by Nottingham Trent University’s Future Factory in association with The Food and Drink Forum and Action Sustainability.

Future Factory is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), and aims to support East Midlands small to medium-sized companies to adopt more sustainable products and processes.

The next workshop turns the spotlight on writing a winning tender, and takes place at Nottingham Trent University’s Clifton Campus between 9.30am and 1.30pm on June 20th.

The final session, which is being staged at Nottingham Trent University’s City Campus on July 4th from 9.30am to 1.30pm, will concentrate on practicing the presentation skills that can help your company to win over a potential buyer.

“The first session, which focused on writing a successful Pre-Qualification Questionnaire, attracted businesses from a wide range of sectors and was a real success,” said Lisa Unwin, from The Food and Drink Forum. “I would urge any East Midlands company to sign up for the next sessions if they’d like to receive essential advice and support for winning new business.”

  For full details of what’s included in each event or to find out more, please visit http://bit.ly/euCEwQ For inquiries or to book, contact Angela Scott at futurefactory@ntu.ac.uk or on 0115 8488675.

Press release issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Speakers announced for Food and Drink Forum AGM and networking event

More than 150 guests are expected at the annual general meeting and networking supper of one of the largest food and drink business support organisations in the East Midlands.

The evening, which is the flagship event of the year for the Food and Drink Forum, takes place at Kelham Hall near Newark on Tuesday June 26th.

Key industry figures from across Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire and Rutland are due to attend the event, which this year is being sponsored by Pork Farms and the Food and Drink iNet.

Speakers include Ian Noakes, of Dovedale Foods, and Dave Harrison from Everards Brewery.

Ian, who runs a company based at Southglade Food Park, Nottingham, which manufacturers a range of sauces, including dairy and gluten-free products, under the Sauces of Choice brand will be delivering a presentation entitled ‘Working for yourself? You must be mad’.

Dave, who is operations director at Leicestershire-based independent family brewery Everards, will deliver a presentation focused on ‘Food and drink from a small business perspective’.

“Our AGM and networking supper is the ideal time for those linked to the food and drink sector in the region to come together to network, make contacts and to hear about the latest sector trends,” said Food and Drink Forum managing director Fiona Anderson.

“We are very pleased that once again we will be welcoming so many professionals from across the East Midlands.”

The Forum, which is based at Southglade Food Park, Nottingham, has members across the region, including manufacturers, food service operators, and consultants and businesses providing services to the food and drink sector.

The Food and Drink Forum was founded in 1998 as a not-for-profit, membership-led organisation to stimulate and support the sustainable growth and development of the food and drink industry in the East Midlands.

Its aims include championing the food and drink sector in the East Midlands, developing strategic influencing partnerships within and outside the East Midlands, and acting as a centre for information and knowledge on all subjects relating to the food and drink sector in the region.

It also aims to stimulate and facilitate sustainable change within companies of all sizes across the food chain, generate income and secure resources to meet the needs of a high-quality service, and promote the food and drink sector to future employees through education and the raising of skills.

For information about membership or the AGM and networking supper please call 0115 9758810. www.foodanddrinkforum.co.uk

Issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

East Midlands companies offered free advice on winning contracts

East Midlands businesses are being invited to learn the secret of success when it comes to bidding for public sector contracts.

A series of free workshops is being run to help small and medium-sized companies boost their selling potential and improve their chances during the procurement process.

The three events are open to all sectors and to businesses across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland.

The sessions will be delivered by specialist consultants who have a proven track record of supporting businesses across a variety of sectors. Their clients have been helped to win more than £13 million in new business over the past two years.

The first session takes place on May 30th at Nottingham Trent University’s Clifton Campus between 9.30am and 1.30pm, and focuses on writing a successful Pre-Qualification Questionnaire.

This is followed by a second workshop at the same venue between 9.30am and 1.30pm on June 20th, which will turn the spotlight on writing a winning tender.

The final session, which is being staged at Nottingham Trent University’s City Campus on July 4th from 9.30am to 1.30pm, will concentrate on practicing the presentation skills that can help your company to win over a potential buyer.

Companies are being advised to attend all three sessions if possible, to make the most of the opportunities, but are welcome to book individual workshops.

The programme is being run by Nottingham Trent University’s Future Factory in association with The Food and Drink Forum and Action Sustainability.

Future Factory is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), and aims to support East Midlands small to medium-sized companies to adopt more sustainable products and processes.

For full details of what’s included in each event or to find out more, please visit http://bit.ly/euCEwQ For inquiries or to book, contact Angela Scott at futurefactory@ntu.ac.uk or on 0115 8488675. Issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Food and Drink Forum announces its AGM and networking supper date

One of the largest food and drink business support membership organisations in the East Midlands has announced the date for its flagship event of the year.

The Food and Drink Forum, which operates across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland, will be staging its annual general meeting and networking supper on Tuesday June 26^th.

 Around 160 key industry figures from across the East Midlands took part in last year’s event, with more expected this year.

“Our AGM and networking supper provides the perfect opportunity for those connected to the region’s food and drink sector to meet other industry professionals, catch up on industry trends and to make important contacts,” said Food and Drink Forum managing director Fiona Anderson.

The Forum, which is based at Southglade Food Park, Nottingham, has members across the region, including manufacturers, food service operators, and consultants and businesses providing services to the food and drink sector.

Members are entitled to at least one free ticket to the AGM and networking supper, depending on their membership level. Food and drink firms interested in being a part of the Forum are invited to join ahead of the AGM event, which takes place at Kelham Hall, near Newark, from 4pm on June 26^th.

“The AGM is a key date on the calendar, and once again we’re expecting to attract members from across the East Midlands,” said Fiona Anderson.

Guest speakers are currently being lined up but will include Ian Noakes, from Dovedale Foods, which produces the Sauces of Choice brand.

The Food and Drink Forum was founded in 1998 as a not-for-profit, membership-led organisation to stimulate and support the sustainable growth and development of the food and drink industry in the East Midlands.

Its aims include championing the food and drink sector in the East Midlands, developing strategic influencing partnerships within and outside the East Midlands, and acting as a centre for information and knowledge on all subjects relating to the food and drink sector in the region.

It also aims to stimulate and facilitate sustainable change within companies of all sizes across the food chain, generate income and secure resources to meet the needs of a high-quality service, and promote the food and drink sector to future employees through education and the raising of skills.

For information about membership or the AGM and networking supper please call 0115 9758810.

www.foodanddrinkforum.co.uk

Issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Food and Drink Forum flies the flag for regional food at Expo 2012

Business support organisation The Food and Drink Forum is flying the flag for regional producers next month at one of the UK’s largest food and drink trade shows.

The Forum, which operates across Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire and Rutland, is offering producers the chance to showcase their products at the event under the East Midlands banner.

Food and Drink Expo, which is one of the most popular trade events for the food and drink sector, takes place from Sunday March 25th to Tuesday March 27th at the NEC Birmingham.

This year, Expo boasts a new farm shop and deli area which will highlight artisan food products. It’s there that The Forum will help to promote some of the East Midlands’ best producers.

“It can be challenging for producers to get their products in front of buyers and store owners, so this is an ideal opportunity to do so,” said Food and Drink Forum managing director Fiona Anderson. “For a small administration fee, The Forum will promote ambient, pre-packed products from the region and give out samples and marketing material.

“In 2010 Food and Drink Expo attracted over 26,000 buyers from the grocery, foodservice, wholesale, speciality retail and manufacturing sectors so it’s a perfect platform for promotion.”

The Food and Drink Forum, which was launched in 1998 as a not-for-profit membership-led organisation, stimulates and supports the sustainable growth and development of the food and drink industry in the East Midlands.

It is based at Southglade Food Park, Nottingham, and operates across the East Midlands and beyond.

For details about eligibility for the Expo 2012 opportunity contact The Food and Drink Forum on 0115 9758810. Deadline for applications is March 1st 2012.

www.foodanddrinkforum.co.uk

Issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk