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British Food Fortnight competition calls for local communities

Love British Food British
11 Jun 2019
The British Food Fortnight competition, run in association with the Co-op, is looking for the best community celebration of British food in schools, hospitals, care homes and restaurants to take part within the fortnight 21 September to 6 October.

The competition, in its seventh year, is still growing, as more people want to celebrate the food produced in their region.  Previous winners include 2018 winners Hampshire who delivered British meals to over 450 schools across the county, and organised interactive foodie activity with individual schools.

Breige Donaghy, director of delicious food, Co-op said: As a community retailer, we see every day the joy of bringing people together over food and drink. This competition is an exciting way to encourage communities, friends and families to join together in celebration British food and drink.”

In 2018, the village of Haslington in Cheshire organised a lunch on village green for the whole community proving that large and small communities can take part. The city of Peterborough organised a two-day food celebration with 500 locals joining in.

The competition panel includes Love British Food ambassadors Raymond Blanc, OBE, Liz Earle, MBE, Candice Brown and Minette Batters, president of the NFU, founder of British Food Fortnight, Alexia Robinson and Donaghy, director of delicious food at Co-op.

Robinson said: “I am so excited every year to see the competition grow as the number of communities realise just how important it is to support our farmers, producers and local food business. The competition allows communities to work and appreciate the delicious and diverse food that is produced on our doorsteps.

“Entries should highlight how people were educated on British food during British Food Fortnight and include events that really highlight local communities with the added benefit of including a legacy that can be built on year on year.”

The winners will be presented with the Love British Food 2019 trophy and will receive £250 of Co-op vouchers, ‘Les pionniers’ champagne and a selection of goodies from the campaign ambassadors.

Blanc has been involved with the competition since it launched back in 2012.  He said: “Last year the competition entries were fantastic and made my job of judging incredibly difficult.  I remember some great entries including preschool, care homes remembering food through the decades and we even had a hospital roof garden that took part.  

"It was great to see such a variety of events taking place and, of course, the increased interest in British Food… I am very excited to see many more inspirational entries this year.”

Cost Sector Catering is the foodservice media partner of the event.

To enter, all you have to do is organise your event during British Food Fortnight, take plenty of photos and post them on your social media sites if you can. See terms & conditions on www.lovebritishfood.co.uk.