British Food Fortnight
British Food Fortnight is the flagship annual event for promoting British and regional food in restaurants, cafes, pubs, schools, catering firms and retailers. Each year thousands of UK businesses take part and any business that serves or retails food should seriously consider participating. The organisers claim that sales can go up by as much as 34% during the two-week period, but that the spin off in terms of longer term increased sales can last much longer.
Participants receive huge promotion
As the most successful event in the drive to promote British and regional food, BFF is sponsored by over 40 high profile organisations including Kenwood, Budgens and the NHS. It is endorsed by HRH Prince Charles and receives enormous advertising and promotional coverage - part of the secret of the success of its achievements. In the build-up to the event, as well as extensive media coverage, the fortnight is promoted in, amongst others: Budgens, Londis, Asda, Booths, Morrisons, ARAMARK, Compass, Brakes, Sodexho, Somerfield, 4,000 members of the Rural Shops Association, 5,000 independent shops, 350 of the UK’s leading delicatessens; 400 Les Routiers restaurants; 5,000 pubs; in National Trust properties, Youth Hostels and at food festivals and events nationwide. All this makes for huge exposure - last year the BFF website received 5.8 million hits.
What the press have to say
As a result, any food retailer, caterer, restaurant, pub or other participating business becomes the recipient of the a truly huge advertising campaign, explaining how the event has gained such well earned well-earned credibility over the last seven years:
The Observer
"British Food Fortnight provides a fantastic opportunity to grow sales and profits with the support of a nationally recognised event. It would be foolish not to take part."
Libra Europe, consultants to the food supply chain industry, writing in The Grocer
"Any pub failing to make plans for British Food Fortnight may want to rethink that decision."
The Publican
"British Food Fortnight offers a real profit opportunity for independent retailers."
Independent Retail News
"Catering establishments taking part in British Food Fortnight have proved that buying British can be affordable and add real value to profits."
Catering Manager Magazine
How to get involved
If you've missed the 2008 fortnight, start thinking about 2009 - each year the event takes place in teh autumn. Any organisation that serves, retails or caters food can get involved and the British Food Fortnight websites provides detailed information on ideas, recipes, ways to increase sales and how to maximise coverage of your events, promotions and activities. All participants can also upload their events free to the BFF website and there are press contacts for each region, sample Press Releases and a guide with tips to promoting your event and gaining publicity after the event has taken place.
As well as increase promotion and sales during the fortnight, preparing for British Food Fortnight and working with the BFF organisers is an easy, informative and highly rewarding introduction to successfully increasing food sales.
For more information visit the British Food Fortnight website.
Click here to download their document Hot Tips for Retailers and Caterers.
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