FFB To Sponsor The British Cheese Awards Trade Day

This year is a milestone for Food from Britain (FFB), as it is the fifth year it’s supporting the Great British Cheese Festival.  For the first time, FFB will be sponsoring the British Cheese Awards Trade Day, taking place on Friday 28th September from 1pm – 5.30pm at Millets Farm Centre, Oxfordshire, followed by The Great British Cheese Festival, which opens its door to the public on 29th and 30th September.

Despite being rained off on the Sunday last year, exhibitors reported record sales on the Saturday with over 6,000 visitors spending more in one day than in two days in previous years.  Numerous trade buyers also attended the festival last year for three days of tasting and to buy the very best of British cheese.  In addition, a range of non-cheese producers helped highlight the richness and diversity of today’s regional food and drink in Britain.

The Trade Day, with its strict ‘trade only’ policy, will feature workshops for cheese makers, caterers, chefs, retailers and overseas buyers and give buyers a chance to discover new and innovative regional food and drink.  The climax of the day will see the UK’s top producers celebrated at the prestigious British Cheese Awards dinner, where FFB is sponsoring the Best Cheese for Export Award.

FFB will once again stage the Food from Britain Market at the Great British Cheese Festival, showcasing some 40 producers from all over Britain offering visitors a kaleidoscope of flavours to tempt and inspire. 

Visitors can also enjoy a host of festival attractions including Britain’s Biggest Cheese Market, featuring over 100 cheese makers, an English Wine Bar, Perry and Ciders, cheese tossing and informative cheese master classes in the Tesco School for Big Cheeses.

Juliet Harbutt, organiser of the festival, said; “FFB has provided massive support to the Great British Cheese Festival over the years and we are delighted that they will sponsoring the British Cheese Awards Trade Day.”

Juliet continued: “The Food from Britain Market is always enormously popular providing visitors with the opportunity to taste and buy products from all over the country as well as discover the quality and history of the very best of our regional products.  Plus we have two new major attractions the Local heroes Market and the Milroys of Soho Whiskey tent.  So whatever their age, shape or style visitors can indulge in the very best of British from the newest Stilton to the oldest cheddar, the finest cider to local wines – a truly unforgettable weekend for food lovers.”

Charlotte Lawson, Director of Business & UK Services for Food From Britain, said: “The British Cheese Awards Trade Day provides an invaluable opportunity for producers to demonstrate the taste, quality and variety of food and drink in Britain to both consumers and trade buyers from all over the world.  We are proud to be able to continue to help increase awareness of the UK’s regional food and drink offerings by supporting the awards and festival as one of our Defra-funded initiatives.”

Stand packages are available for producers wishing to take part in the Food from Britain Market and Britain’s Biggest Cheese Market. Interested parties should contact their regional food group or Juliet Harbutt on 01608 659325.

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Notes to Editors 

Food from Britain, the market development consultancy for British food and drink producers, has been commissioned by Defra to develop and implement a programme of support for the British regional food and drink sector.  It is being delivered in association with a network of regional food and drink groups, and encompasses trade development, consumer awareness and increasing producer competitiveness.

For more information visit www.foodfrombritain.com.

 

16 July 2007