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History of British Food Fortnight
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British Food Fortnight was conceived in response to the fact that, though there are numerous food initiatives, projects and events taking place across Britain, there was no overall flagship event to bring them to the public's attention. It was held for the first time in Autumn 2002 at the same time as Harvest Festival, the traditional time for celebrating our food.
Since its launch, the event has quickly become the definitive national celebration of our regional foods and drinks, and the health benefits and pleasures of eating quality, fresh, seasonal and regionally distinct produce. It has established itself on the national calendar extremely quickly. By focusing effort on a calendar date it gives people involved in the food business something to aim for and helps concentrate their efforts. It is therefore much more than a mere date in the diary. It is proving an important influencer in engaging the retail, catering, education and volunteer sectors and in establishing a more robust market for Britain's food and drink. |
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What the event has achieved so far |
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The event is now firmly established as one of the most high profile events on the national calendar and certainly one of the most powerful in engaging the education, retail and catering sectors.
Here is a summary of our overall achievements to date.
Summary of overall achievements
- 35,000 schools provided annually with information on including food and cookery activities within the curriculum as part of the Fortnight's activities.
- 34,000 shops, pubs and restaurants given details on how to increase sales by sourcing and promoting British produce in the build up to each year’s event.
- Over £15 million estimated increase in sales of regional food and drink during the Fortnight each year. Retailers taking part have increased their sales of regional food and drink by up to 34% as a direct result of the event.
- Sales of products offered for tastings increased a staggering 50%.
- 84% of new lines stocked for the promotion have been retained since.
- Thousands of events have taken place during the Fortnight from events in schools and parishes, to promotions and special menus in shops, pubs and restaurants.
- The event's 'Buy British' message is seen or heard over 300 million times in the build up to and during the event and has included: coverage in every national newspaper; storylines on BBC Radio 4's The Archers; a special edition of Blue Peter, daily BFF recipes on teletext's homepage and has made headlines on the BBC website.
- Terry Wogan has announced on national radio that he wished “Every fortnight was British Food Fortnight”; the Observer Food Monthly magazine said that “The fast-growing umbrella organisation for all aspects of food is British Food Fortnight” and Cherie Blair at the Labour Party Conference picked up one of our leaflets and exclaimed, "Ah, British Food Fortnight - now that's a good idea!"
- Over 45 organisations work together under its umbrella.
- 80 MPs have attended receptions to hear about the role of the Fortnight in promoting British food.
- HRH The Prince of Wales endorses the Fortnight.
- The first nationwide network of private sector organisations that can offer food-related activity based teaching and learning facilities for schools is being established. Already many chefs, producers, butchers, delicatessan-owners, local market authorities have committed their support. In an innovative move organisations representing over 9,000 chefs have teamed up with schools to offer their services in the classroom and to help teachers organise practical cookery activities. The aim is to emulate the French who regularly send chefs into schools to teach children about their national cuisine.
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