Regional and local food go national

Citation

(2008), "Regional and local food go national", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 38 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/nfs.2008.01738dab.015

Regional and local food go national

Article Type: Food facts From: Nutrition & Food Science, Volume 38, Issue 4.

To mark their first anniversary, The Regional Food Group Alliance has launched the website www.regionalandlocalfood.co.uk.

The Alliance is the umbrella organisation for the eight English Regional Food Groups who have joined forces to ensure the co-ordination of national activity within the food and drink industry.

National co-ordination is seen as a crucial step to ensure the continuation of the successes achieved over the last ten years. The move has come about as food from Britain, who used to fly the flag for the promotion of regional food has now changed its focus to solely concentrate on exports from April 2008.

The new site will act as a portal, helping English businesses and individuals to contact the food group relevant to their area direct in order to access their available resources and expertise.

Regional and local food and drink will therefore continue to have a national perspective through the Alliance and enquiries can be directed to the website – www.regionalandlocalfood.co.uk

The eight English Regional Food Groups were set up by food from Britain from 1991 onwards and were core funded by DEFRA via FFB until 2002 when a tendering scheme was introduced which ceases from 1 April 2008. The food groups now all work at different levels of partnership with the eight Regional Development Agencies.

The Regional Food Group Alliance will have at its core the following key objectives:

1. 1.

   Co-ordinate national food and drink initiatives and activities using the relevant food group's knowledge of local trends to deliver these initiatives and activities at the regional and local level.

2. 2.

   Facilitate communication with central government departments, national businesses and other national agencies that wish to deliver regional activity within the food and drink sector.

The groups combined work with over 3,000 active producers on business development, consumer awareness and public relations initiatives and have over the last 12 months assisted in over 20 million pounds of additional business creation. The plan is to double this business growth.

Contact details for the eight Regional Food Groups

1. 1.

   Tastes of Anglia address: The Barn, Burnt House Farm, Wash Lane, Witnesham, Ipswich, Suffolk IP6 9JE, UK. Web: www.tastesofanglia.com/www.feasteast.co.uk

2. 2.

   Regional Food Group for Yorkshire and Humber address: 1-2 Grimston Grange, Sherburn Road, Tadcaster LS24 9BX, UK. Web: www.rfgyh.co.uk/www.deliciouslyyorkshire.co.uk

3. 3.

   HEFFs address: P.O. Box 1, Much Wenlock, Shropshire TF13 6WH, UK. Web: www.heff.co.uk

4. 4.

   North East England food and drink group address: Ground Floor, Beaufront Park, Anick Road, Hexham, Northumberland NE46 4 TU, UK. Web: www.tastenortheast.co.uk

5. 5.

   Taste of the West address: Agriculture House, Pynes Hill, Rydon Lane, Exeter, Devon EX2 5ST, UK. Web: www.tasteofthewest.co.uk

6. 6.

   North West fine foods address: Technology Management Centre, Moss lane View, Skelmersdale, Lancs WN8 9TN, UK. Web: www.nwfinefood.co.uk

7. 7.

   South East Food Group Partnership address: Unit 21, Broadmarsh Business Centre, Harts Farm Way, Havant, Hampshire PO9 1HS, UK. Web: www.southeastenglandfoodanddrink.co.uk

8. 8.

   East Midlands fine foods address: New Brook House, 385 Alfreton Road, Nottingham NG7 5LR, UK. Web: www.eastmidlandsfinefoods.co.uk