Local Food Producers get a bite of the Tourism and Hospitality Industry
23 February 2006: Local food and drink producers can sink their teeth into the tourism and hospitality industry with the help of a new step-by-step guide.
'Selling to Tourism and Hospitality Businesses: A guide for Local Producers' is a new publication produced by Tourism South East (TSE) with the South East Food Group Partnership (SEFGP).
With over 21,000 tourism and hospitality businesses in the South East of England and consumers increasingly seeking the "real" food experience, TSE and SEFGP have put together information and advice to help local producers sell to this developing market sector.
The guide is aimed at small and medium sized local food and drink producers who are interested in promoting their food to the tourism and hospitality sector, i.e. Hotels, restaurants, cafes, pubs, B&Bs and attractions. It offers a basic introduction and explanation of the structure of the market, best routes to take and what is required to supply the sector e.g. building effective business relationships, having a distribution network, and where the best opportunities lie. There is also advice on portions, packaging and delivery. Case studies and links to key agencies, such as the County Food Groups are also included.
Roger Budden, Head of Development and Rural Regeneration at TSE said, "Tourists spend £10 billion a year visiting businesses in this sector, £3 billion of which is spent on food and drink alone. Consequently this represents a market of potentially huge value to local producers. We have produced this easy-to-read guide to help local producers develop this market. It also meets the needs of tourism businesses who are keen to source local produce and add value to their food offer."
The guide is being launched by Shaun Leavey, the Chairman of the South East region's Sustainable Food and Farming Delivery Board, on 28th February at Adams Park Conference Centre in High Wycombe. The publication is free of charge to local producers and available at the show or by contacting TSE on 023 8062 5453 or rbudden@tourismse.co or SEFGP on 01730 893724 or info@buylocalfood.co.uk
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For further information please contact:
Jodie Hodge, TSE Corporate Communications on 023 8062 5502 or jhodge@tourismse.com or
Henriette Reinders, SEFGP on 01730 893724 or info@buylocalfood.co.uk
The 'Selling to Tourism and Hospitality Businesses: A guide for Local Producers' will be launched at 1.30 at the 'Local Food for Hospitality' Food market* on 28th February at Adams Park Conference Centre in High Wycombe. If you would like to come along to the launch or the event please contact Jodie Hodge (contact details above).
Notes to Editor
Tourism South East is the strategic tourism body for Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey and West Sussex.
The South East Food Group Partnership is the sector group for local and regional produce in the South East of England.
* The Local Food for Hospitality Show is the only marketplace where you can come and meet local producers and suppliers of delicious food and drink. It is run by Berks, Bucks, Oxon & Milton Keynes Food Groups. Website www.local-food.net