Love British Food has launched its 2018 competition, run in association with Co-op, to find the best community celebration of British food. Hospitals, care homes, schools, community groups, pubs, restaurants and whole villages, towns and even cities are invited to take part during British Food Fortnight which takes place from September 22 - October 7 this year.
Now in its sixth year, this popular competition has seen a tremendous variety of entries over the years from organisations who use British Food Fortnight as an opportunity to celebrate the food produced in their part of the country. Previous winners include the cities of Peterborough and Bath, Emsworth market town in Hampshire and the village of Haslington in Cheshire, proving that large and small communities can take part. Last year’s winner was the Ginger & Spice Festival in Market Drayton that used the competition to establish a community celebration of their food heritage, particularly the much-loved Gingerbread Man!
A superb group of high-profile judges from the food industry are involved in the competition this year, including Raymond Blanc, OBE, Liz Earle, CBE, Candice Brown and Minette Batters, President of the NFU alongside founder of British Food Fortnight, Alexia Robinson and Breige Donaghy, Director of Delicious Food at Co-op.
“The competition gets bigger each year as increasing numbers of people and communities are realising how important it is to support our farmers, producers and local food business. This competition is a super opportunity for communities to come together and appreciate the delicious and diverse food that is produced on our doorsteps,” says Alexia Robinson.
“We are looking for entries that educate people about British food and events that strengthen the local community and provide a legacy that can be built on year-on-year.”
Raymond Blanc has been involved with the competition since it launched back in 2012. He says: “Last year the entries were incredible, from care homes, preschools and even a hospital roof garden got involved. It was great to see so many varied events taking place. The 2017 winner, Ginger & Spice Festival in Market Drayton already has plans to make the festival bigger and better. So, we’re expecting more inspirational entries this year.”
As well as having a Love British Food Ambassador attend their event in 2019, the winners will be presented with the Love British Food 2018 trophy, £250 in Co-op vouchers as well as a case of Co-op award-winning ‘Les Pionniers’ champagne and a selection of goodies from the campaign ambassadors.
To enter the competition all you have to do is organise your event during British Food Fortnight, take plenty of photos and post them on your social media sites if you can. Click here for terms & conditions and details about how to enter.
