Marketing Lancashire Reveals Plans to Put Lancashire on the Culinary Map

40 of Lancashire’s most respected best food producers, chefs, retailers, butchers, farmers and growers gathered this week to debate and discuss the future of Lancashire Food & Drink at an event led by Marketing Lancashire at Brockholes Conference Centre.

Food writer and broadcaster with Lancastrian roots,  Matthew Fort, chaired the debate and urged the county to work collectively to put Lancashire food and drink on the map, “Lancashire needs to be a brand and needs to stand shoulder to shoulder to achieve it” said Fort.  

“There’s a history of co-operative working in Lancashire as well as authenticity and tradition, which can be built into strong food experiences that make a visit to Lancashire compelling” commented Matthew Fort. 

“Lancashire needs to promote the things that happen here, are grown here, can be experienced and tasted nowhere else in the country.  Revealing the unexpected about the county will give Lancashire standout appeal.”

Food and drink is worth around £734 million to Lancashire’s visitor economy, which has grown by £129 million over the last 6 years.  The sector also supports an estimated 12,937 (23%) food and drink related posts.

Ruth Connor, Chief Executive of Marketing Lancashire said, “Food and drink is a vibrant part of Lancashire’s economy. As part of our work with the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership we’ve identified food and drink as a key strength in the Lancashire narrative. Our aim is to create a unifying food and drink strategy that the whole of Lancashire can get behind, rightfully putting Lancashire on the nation’s culinary map.”

“Marketing Lancashire is re-inventing its Taste Lancashire campaign, with the aim of establishing the county as a must-visit destination for food lovers. We can only do that in partnership with those directly involved in the industry and this event is about galvanising our ideas and ambition, towards achieving this shared success for Lancashire.”

Cinzia and Maurizio Bocchi of La Locanda in Gisburn, current holders of the Taste Lancashire Tourism Award 2015, speaking about the event said “We feel very strongly about using locally sourced Lancashire food in our restaurant and as Italians have chosen to live and work in this beautiful part of England, full of amazing producers and strong heritage businesses that are unique to Lancashire.

“We support Taste Lancashire and look forward to being part of the campaigns and opportunities that bring more national and international recognition to Lancashire.”

Ian Steel, of J.Atkinson and Co, coffee roaster and tea merchant of Lancaster added “There was a really positive feeling in the room that we, as local food and drink producers, are being recognised as a central plank of Lancashire’s marketing strategy, a palpable willingness to seize this opportunity to work together to tell our stories as part of the narrative to attract people to the county.”

Executive Chef Paul Rowley, of Rowleys Catering based in Blackpool commented
'It was a meeting of food Heroes and it fills  me with great confidence for the future of Lancashire's food industry that Marketing Lancashire are launching this initiative to champion everything that is great about our stunning Red Rose county.”

Lancashire-based food businesses interested in becoming Members of Marketing Lancashire should contact Maria Moriarty Eames, Head of Partnerships on 01772 426450.

ENDS

For more information on Marketing Lancashire please contact:
Anna Izza, Head of PR and Communications 01772 426 459
Laura Crabb, PR and Communications Executive 01772 426 456
To contact Lemon Zest PR:
Jennifer Middleton on 01757 268283 / 07708 155501
Ellen Howells 01757 268283

NOTES TO EDITORS

1.    Marketing Lancashire is the Destination Management Organisation (DMO) for Lancashire, established (1st April 2012).   Our activities in marketing and communications, commercial membership and place marketing are all designed to grow the visitor economy and develop the profile of Lancashire as the first choice destination to visit, live, study, work and invest in.

2.    Lancashire visitor numbers and value of food and drink sector
Lancashire welcomes just over 63 million visitors each year who contribute £3.67 to the local economy and support just over 56,000 jobs. Food and drink is worth around £734 million to Lancashire’s visitor economy, accounting for 20% of this tourism revenue and supporting     an estimated 12,937 (23%) food and drink related posts within the sector. Its value has risen by £129 million (21%) over the last 6 years, from 2009. (Source: STEAM 2014)

3.    Taste Lancashire Campaign
Taste Lancashire is a dedicated food and drink guide on VisitLancashire.com, the official tourism website for the county, as well as a consumer marketing campaign to promote quality food and drink experiences and increase Lancashire’s 63 million annual visitors. Taste Lancashire also helps raise the profile of local producers and directs visitors to qualityestablishments that are proud to use local produce, through the celebration of internationally recognised food awards and quality marques, as well as the Taste Lancashire quality accreditation scheme.