The UK’s much-anticipated British Food Fortnight starts today and runs from 20th September to 6th October 2024, marking its 23rd year as the nation's leading celebration of all things British food. Set against the backdrop of the harvest season, this year’s event promises to be bigger and better than ever, with activities, promotions, and celebrations taking place across the country.
(A partial list outlining some of the nationwide activities included in the notes below.)
This annual event, embraced by communities, retailers, and the public sector alike, is a unique opportunity to highlight the diversity and quality of British food. The fortnight is supported by local communities as well as being backed by most of the major food service organisations and the public sector meaning that schools, hospitals, universities and care homes join pubs and restaurants in celebrating British food. Morrisons is the Official Retail Partner having signed a three-year partnership with the organisers, Love British Food.
The national food celebrations launched this morning at New Covent Garden Market, London’s oldest and largest fresh produce wholesale market, fittingly marking the sale of British fruit and vegetables in the capitol since Medieval times and the 50th anniversary of the market’s move to Nine Elms.
Wanda Goldwag OBE, Chair of Covent Garden Market Authority,, commented:
“The first day of British Food Fortnight is always a momentous day in the nation’s food calendar. This market has marked the annual event in various ways over the years but this year, we wanted to make it more of an interactive occasion and invite people to meet some of the fantastic British growers who supply wholesalers both here and around the country."
A Message from Love British Food Founder, Alexia Robinson:
“We are thrilled to see British Food Fortnight growing stronger each year. This celebration is about more than just food; it’s about community and sustainability. We are excited to partner with Morrisons, who have been exceptional leaders on British food and farming. Their commitment to making good food available for all aligns perfectly with our mission. With so many exciting activities planned, we hope everyone will join us in celebrating the very best of British food this British Food Fortnight.”
Highlights of British Food Fortnight 2024:
- Morrisons Involvement: throughout British Food Fortnight Morrisons will be celebrating the best of autumn's British produce, meat and fish on Market Street with great value prices and in store marketing displays. In addition, the community champions that are based in all of Morrisons supermarkets and work closely with the communities surrounding each store will be rewarding local groups who focus on increasing access to fresh, seasonal British food.
- Community Focus: The British Food Fortnight Community Competition, in association with Morrisons, returns to celebrate individuals and volunteer organisations making “good food available for all.” Liz Earle, wellbeing entrepreneur and broadcaster, will lead the judging panel, focusing on the availability and affordability of good food in communities.
“I have been involved in British Food Fortnight for over a decade. I love how the event inspires communities to celebrate the wonderful food we produce in this country. But the stark reality is that not everyone has access to good food. So the spotlight of this competition on the availability and affordability of good food for all is something I feel deeply strongly about, particularly in my role as Commissioner for the Social Justice Commission. I am delighted to be the lead judge. If you are an individual or organisation working hard to make ‘Good food available to all’ in your community, we want to hear from you!”
Liz Earle MBE, wellbeing broadcaster and entrepreneur and Love British Food ambassador
“At Morrisons we love British food and are delighted to be partnering with British Food Fortnight. We share the ambition for affordable fresh food to be available to everyone - it's one of our core values. So I'm honoured to be on the judging panel for this competition which profiles and rewards the unsung heroes in our community who are helping to ensure more people can enjoy great British food.”
David Scott, Director of Morrisons Corporate Affairs
- New Competitions: The Great British Pie Challenge, a new addition for 2024, invites school and hospital chefs to compete against hospitality chefs in creating the ultimate British pie. Judged by Michelin-starred chef Phil Howard and Master Chefs of GB’s Ben Bartlett, the competition has already garnered significant interest, particularly among hospital caterers.
- Nationwide Participation: Over 3,000 schools, 10 universities, 28 hospitals and many care homes will showcase British food on their menus, promoting nutritious and sustainable eating. Leading food service organisations like Aramark, OCS, Sodexo, Chartwells and Brakes are also participating with special promotions and events.
- Hard-Hitting Campaigns: During the fortnight, Love British Food will release a set of ‘wishes’ for a national food strategy, to be presented at the Labour Party Conference. Leading chefs will sign a letter highlighting supply chain challenges in sourcing British food.
- National Harvest Service: The event will conclude with the National Harvest Service at Southwark Cathedral in London. This year’s service is being run in partnership with City Harvest, the food charity that redistributes 1.2 millions meals a month to those in need across London. The service takes place in a different city every year during British Food Fortnight. The Harvest Torch is travelling from Peterborough, where the service was held last year, to London. Her Majesty The Queen who instigated the National Harvest Service at Westminster Abbey in 2013, supports the service every year.
Looking Ahead:
British Food Fortnight promises a dynamic program of activities designed to engage and inspire communities, businesses, and public sector organisations to embrace British food. From farm visits for NHS caterers to school menus and national competitions, the event showcases the best of British food production and the importance of making good food available for all.
ENDS
Notes to the Editor:
About Love British Food:
Love British Food is the leading organisation dedicated to promoting British food in the public and private sectors. Through initiatives like British Food Fortnight, Love British Food works to support local farmers, producers, and retailers while encouraging sustainable and healthy eating.
https://www.lovebritishfood.co.uk/
ACTIVITY TAKING PLACE AROUND THE COUNTRY
Over 3,000 schools are hosting activity during British Food Fortnight from special menus to educational activities:
National school food providers
OCS food service: (78 schools)
Chartwells (2,000 schools)
Academies for Character & Excellence
School Grid (1,200 schools nationally); APSE (working with 300 councils across the UK)
Local Authority and regional school food providers
Shire Services, Shropshire (140 schools); CMC School Food, national (180 schools); Local Food Links, Dorset (58 schools)
Blackpool Local Authority (32 schools); Nottingham Local Authority; Norse Group, Norfolk (140 primary schools); Oxford County Council, working with 34 school caterers in 300 schools.
And individual schools, each of which is a shining inspirational example of what can be achieved with school food:
Batholomew School, Oxford; Ca Site Sarum Academy, Salisbury; Woodlands Primary School, Liverpool
Phunky Foods will be organising special healthy food activities throughout the fortnight.
Wicor Primary School, Fareham, Hants 436 children taking part in cooking, tasting and learning where local food comes from.
Abingdon School, Abingdon, Oxford (Sodexo independent school) – Celebrating BFF in school with themed menus and activity
Lancaster County Careers Centre, Lancaster
Universities taking part with British Food Fortnight menus
Plymouth, Staffordshire, Huddersfield, University of St Andrews, Kings College London,
Harper Adams, Exeter, Southampton, Loughborough and Reading.
The following hospitals are all running special menus and promotional activity for British Food Fortnight:
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Hawkhurst Community Hospital, Hawkhurst, Kent
Milton Keynes UHT
James Paget UHT, Great Yarmouth
SE Trust, Northern Ireland
NHS Solent, Southampton
County Durham and Darlington NHS
Victoria Hospital, Blackpool
Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, Shrewsbury
Airedale General Hospital, Keighley, West Yorkshire
Norfolk & Suffolk Foundation Trust
Barnsley Hospital
Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS
Southern Health NHS Foundation, Hampshire
Medway NHS Foundation Trust, Kent
Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust
Stepping Hill Hospital/Stockport NHS Foundation Trust
South West Yorkshire Partnership
Manchester NHS Foundation Trust
Leicester hospital
Gosport War Memorial Hospital
Ipswich hospital, Ipswich
Ashford & St Peters Hospital, Surrey
East London NHS Foundation Trust
Royal Free, London
St Bernard's Hospital West London NHS Trust
Orchard Unit, West London NHS Trust
Royal Brompton Hospital
Swansea Bay Universal Health Board
Wales NHS Confederation
NHS Wales
Care Homes taking part:
National Association of Care Catering (NACC)
Harrogate Neighbours care homes
Norse Group, Britain’s largest local authority trading company
Events taking place around the country
If you would like more details about the events below and the many other things happening during British Food Fortnight please email info@lovebritishfood.co.uk
From Seafood trails in Plymouth, to Eat Local celebrations in Cheshire, to food festivals in Abergavenny, Broadstairs, Brecon Beacons and Thame; village celebrations in Northumbria & community events in Harrogate there is something for everyone to enjoy during British Food Fortnight
Many imaginative things happening in communities British Food Fortnight. Food history talks, cooking demos, tasting menus, foodie quiz nights, pop up shops at farm gates, ploughing matches, seasonal menus and supplier talks in pubs and meet the producer farm visits.
Two big events during British Food Fortnight for pub, restaurant and food service buyers that will help you source more British food:
Brakes Foodie Expo with 60 suppliers in Hertfordshire on 25 Sept.
Universal Cookery & Food Festival in Kent on 26 Sept.
Many Councils are taking part in British Food Fortnight:
East Lindsey, South Holland, South Cambridgeshire, Chichester, Cheshire East, Mid Devon, Portsmouth, Hampshire, Blackpool, Oxford and Boston Borough Council are all organising activities in their communities.
Great variety of places hosting British Food Fortnight menus:
From National Trust properties to London restaurants, country pubs, garden centre cafes, hospitals, care homes, universities and a few thousand schools!
Meet our Love British Food directors during British Food Fortnight:
Tim Radcliffe in discussion with our Ambassador Cathy Amos from our Official Partner, Brakes, at Brakes’ Foodie Expo on 25 Sept.
Ben Bartlett at Universal Cookery & Food Festival in Kent on 26 Sept.
And Derek Wright on a special edition of our podcast, out during the fortnight.
Activity sheets for children
Celebrating British food with a focus on British pies.
https://www.lovebritishfood.co.uk/teacher-zone
Competitions:
Great British Pie Challenge for British Food Fortnight
Open to all chefs. To enter simply create a pie, savoury or sweet, using British ingredients and add to menus during the Fortnight. Judged by Love British Food Ambassador and renowned chef, Phil Howard.
Win a hamper with a steak box from HG Walter butchers, a fish hamper from Plymouth Fishing and Seafood Association and Fruit and Veg from OCS.
Visit https://www.lovebritishfood.co.uk/great-british-pie-challenge to enter.
Community competition
Is someone in your community helping to make good food available to all?
Volunteers, charities, local businesses. We want to hear from you!
Enter our British Food Fortnight community competition, in association with our Official Retail Partner Morrisons.
Judging is led by Liz Earle, MBE, David Scott, Corporate Affairs Director, Morrisons and Alexia Robinson, CEO Love British Food.
Prize luxury foodie experience personalised for winner
To enter: https://www.lovebritishfood.co.uk/community-competition
Food Festivals taking place during British Food Fortnight:
21 – 22 Sept: Abergavenny Food Festival
https://www.abergavennyfoodfestival.com/
27 – 29 Sept Broadstairs Food Festival in Kent
https://www.broadstairsfoodfestival.org.uk/autumn-2024-festival
28 – 29 Sept: Thame Food Festival
https://thamefoodfestival.co.uk/
29 Sept Louth Food & Drink Festival Lincolnshire
https://lovelincolnshirewolds.com/events/view/3228/louth-food-drink-festival-2024
5 Oct Brecon Beacons Food Festival
https://breconbeaconsfoodfestival.co.uk/
5th – 6th Oct: Shop to Eat Local, Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire:
Quotes from our Directors and some of our Ambassadors:
“As the years role by everything we hear informs us that using local and seasonal produce is becoming ever more important. It is, in fact, the only responsible way to cook and eat. We will be indulging in all that is seasonal, responsibly sourced and local in all of my restaurants during British Food Fortnight and in doing so will serve the most vibrant, fresh, nutritious and utterly delicious food that is best for us and best for the environment. “
Quote from Phil Howard, Chef and Restaurateur, Love British Food ambassador:
“British Food Fortnight is of great importance to me because it celebrates the rich diversity of local produce, supports British farmers and fosters a connection to the land and heritage.
It encourages the appreciation of high-quality, seasonal food that’s grown and produced sustainably.
The national food celebrations promote community spirit, bringing people together through food festivals, farm visits, and educational activities, helping us to understand where our food comes from.
Supporting British food also contributes to the local economy and reduces the environmental impact of importing goods.
Overall, it allows us all to embrace the values of sustainability, health, and cultural pride.”
Tim Radcliffe, Director Love British Food & Net Zero Food Programme Manager, NHS England
“British Food Fortnight 2024 is a fantastic opportunity to shine a light on the quality and diversity of British produce. This event not only supports our local farmers but also plays a crucial role in educating young people about the importance of sustainable, nutritious food. By incorporating British produce into school meals, we’re teaching the next generation the value of eating locally and healthily.”
Derek Wright, Director Love British Food & Catering Services Manager, Blackpool Catering Services
“During British Food Fortnight, I will be cooking at lots of events across the country and speaking on local BBC radio stations championing British produce that I believe is the best in the world.
There are 191,000 farms in Britain supplying some of the best restaurants in Britain as well as local grocery stores and farmers’ markets. Sustainability and seasonality are the key players to the best menus and British producers are absolutely killing it right now.
British waters also have an amazing stock of seafood renowned for being some of the most flavoursome, and getting fresh fish is a real advantage.
As a Master Chef of Great Britain, I am impressed with the many exciting chefs we have slaying it right now. Britain has its fair share of food masters and local food heroes with great menus and the best ingredients, so support them during British Food Fortnight 20th September to 6th October 2024.”
Ben Bartlett, Director Love British Food & Board Member Master Chefs of Great Britain
“As an Ambassador for Love British Food, British Food Fortnight is the ultimate Harvest Festival. Our islands produce some of the most responsibly grown, caught, harvested and marketed produce in the world and when it comes to British Seafood those values are never more accurate. Our seasonal, sustainable traceable and responsibly managed wild and farmed fish and shellfish are the envy of the world and that is reflected in the amount we export. However I would encourage everyone who loves seafood to support our Great British Fishing Industry and its communities, not just during this celebration but all year round”.
Mike Warner, Love British Food Ambassador
“Being an ambassador with Love British Food is always exciting. As a retired Fisherman, it's also great to show off UK-caught seafood to the public during the fortnight. Earlier this year, we set up the Seafood Plymouth brand ‘Choose Local, Go Wild’; during British Food Fortnight, we have organised the Seafood Plymouth Seafood Tour, partnering up with restaurants in and around Plymouth. The public can tour various restaurants at different locations and enjoy the best seafood Plymouth has to offer. Plus, I will be hosting a seafood evening at The Longs Arms in Wiltshire on 26 September showcasing UK-caught seafood with owner Rob Allcock's 6/7 course tasting menu. Wishing everyone taking part all the best….. It's a brilliant fortnight where we get to showcase Great British Homegrown, Home caught British food.”
Adrian Bartlett, Love British Food Ambassador
“We are proud to be Love British Food Ambassadors and we can’t wait for British Food fortnight to push the message wider about the importance of supporting British producers. We are opening the farm gates on 21st September for a pop-up shop selling our award-winning lamb and mutton alongside Free Range local pork and Lincolnshire Beef plus other local produce including bread, fruit and veg, cakes, honey and so much more. We absolutely love being able to connect the public to where their food comes from and the importance of buying British and even better local. We are always happy to answer questions about what we do on the farm and it really does make us incredibly proud to get feedback direct from our customers to help us push forward promoting how wonderful British Food is.
We will also be cooking up our delicious lamb burgers from our converted sheep trailer at three local ploughing matches, a great way for us to speak to everyone and get them trying lamb straight from our family farm.
British Food is absolutely amazing and should be celebrated. British farmers and producers should be supported all year round for feeding the nation and looking after the beautiful British countryside”.
Louise Elkington, Gelston Lamb
“The first day of British Food Fortnight is always a momentous day in the nation’s food calendar. This market has marked the annual event in various ways over the years but this year, we wanted to make it more of an interactive occasion and invite people to meet some of the fantastic British growers who supply wholesalers both here and around the country. This market’s catering suppliers provide premium, world class product to the vast majority of the Michelin starred restaurants in the capital,” Wanda added. “But it’s also true that they supply thousands more small independent businesses who rely on them for the quality product and service that keeps their menus fresh and exciting. Accessing independent restaurants to supply them is not something most growers can do easily, but knowing your product is featured on the menu of a high-profile, high-end restaurant must be a fantastic feeling. Our traders make that happen. Our customers demand, of course, that we provide a year-round supply of premium fresh produce from all corners of the world, but there is nothing to match the buzz in Buyers’ Walk when new-season homegrown produce arrives.”
Wanda Goldwag OBE, Chair of Covent Garden Market Authority, where British Food Fortnight launched this year.
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