• 34,000 shops, pubs and restaurants are provided annually with details on how to use British produce to increase sales


• Over £15 million estimated increase in sales of regional food and drink during the Fortnight each year


• 34% increase in sales in participating stores


• All areas of the catering sector involved – pubs, restaurants, food service, public procurement and visitor attractions.

British Food Fortnight has proved to retailers and caterers that there is money to be made from British food and drink. It has shown how quality, seasonal and regionally-distinct food spells commercial opportunity; how it differentiates them from their competitors, increases sales and brings more customers through their door.

In the build-up to the Fortnight, 34,000 shops, restaurants and pubs are provided with detailed information on sourcing and promoting regional food and drink and are invited to put traditional regionally-distinct foods on their menus and shop-shelves.

As a result, the Fortnight has been 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.

The impact on the retail sector
“British Food Fortnight is the chance for us to inkject some passion and pride into our stores, the authenticity of our products and the links with our local producers and communities.”
The Grocer, 23 Sept 2006

As the Fortnight has grown there has been a noticeably greater interest in regional food from across the retail sector. Since the event was first held more and more retailers are recognising that putting clearly marked British food on their shelves is a way of increasing sales. Hence small independents, medium-sized retailers and the multiples all use the Fortnight as an opportunity to increase their stock of regional food and to flag up British produce in-store.

Budgens, Londis, Booths, Asda, Morrisons, the Guild of Fine Food Retailers, members of the Independent Retailers Association and Rural Shops Alliance have all used the Fortnight to draw consumer attention to the variety of regional produce in-store.

Sales figures from Budgens, Londis and the Guild of Fine Food Retailers have proved that British Food Fortnight has a serious impact on sales. Retailers taking part have increased their sales by up to 34% per store as a direct result of the event; sales of products offered for tastings have increased by a staggering 50% and 84% of new lines stocked for the promotion have been retained since.

The impact on the catering sector
“I would like to see at least five locally produced dishes on every pub menu. 1,000 of our pubs take part in British Food Fortnight and every year I am encouraging even more to do so.”
Steve Schaffer, Catering Development Manager, Punch Taverns

“There is a wealth of excellent foods from across the British Isles and I would urge caterers to use British Food Fortnight to develop regional recipes that take advantage of what’s available.”
Gerard O’Sullivan, National Development Chef, ARAMARK

“Spend per head increased by 17% as a result of our British Food Fortnight menu.”
Paul Eddington, Golant Youth Hostel, Cornwall

“Our British Food Fortnight menu (in 2005) proved cheaper than what we were paying before.”
Perry Lewis, Nottingham City Hospital

“British Food Fortnight is a great way to shout about the fantastic British food produce available both regionally and nationally. Often underestimated, British produce is actually some of the best you can buy.”
Rob Clayton, Executive Chef, Merchant Inns plc, Sept 2006

British Food Fortnight is an established promotion for pubs, restaurants, tourism attractions and food service organisations many of which enhance their menus with British produce during the event. Many Punch Tavern, Marston's Pub Co., Everards pubs and restaurants promote the Fortnight by running special menus featuring regional food and drink.

ARAMARK serves British themed lunches for 4,800 Nationwide employees every year during the Fortnight.

The Youth Hostel Association champions the Fortnight with local meals in its hostels.

Hospital meals have been enhanced: 6,000 British meals have been served to patients at three Sheffield hospitals during the Fortnight; Nottingham City Hospital’s participation in the event proved to them that sourcing British need not be more expensive.

National Trust chefs have competed to design the ultimate children's British food menu.

Overall, there has been a marked increased emphasis on provenance during the Fortnight. Many more restaurants and pubs are now naming the producer and source of food on their menus. The response from the pub sector is particularly strong. For example, Punch Taverns encourage their pubs to serve, and name, at least five locally produced dishes during the fortnight. The tourism sector has also woken up to this and there is much evidence of tourism attractions promoting regional food and drink as an integral part of the visitor experience both during the Fortnight and beyond.