We are urgently developing research requirements with other European laboratories to make sure we understand and the disease (Schmallenberg) better.More local food suppliers needed in Lincolnshire
SELECT Lincolnshire, a key project of the Lincolnshire Forum for Agriculture and Horticulture, organised a food conference, which was staged at the National Centre for Food Manufacturing, Holbeach.
The Lincolnshire Co-operative, which has 69 stores in the county, was actively looking to increase its number of local suppliers following a growing interest by consumers in the provenance of their food.
Last year the co-operative launched its Local Choice brand, featuring a number of Select Lincolnshire members and the aim was to double the number of local products in their stores by June this year, said the co-operative’s supply chain manager Nicola Berry.
She said a major stumbling block for many producers hoping to supply supermarkets, was how to go about it and who to contact. Organisations such as Select Lincolnshire were ideal for helping to facilitate this and assist with form filling and administration.
Select Lincolnshire’s project manager Jill McCarthy said benefits of membership included access to marketing, PR and media campaigns, and opportunities to increase business in new markets and have a presence at national exhibitions.
The organisation took a stand at the recent International Food Exhibition in London and, in addition to raising the profile of Lincolnshire produce and generating a substantial amount of new business for producers, she said there had also been television coverage given to Select Lincolnshire with a commercial value of over £180,000.
Producers should never under estimate the importance of marketing, said Caroline Kenyon, of Kenyon Communications.
Many people were nervous of having a marketing plan, she said, but it was important to know where they were going. Their aim must be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-tabled.
She said it was vital not to become too preoccupied with day-to-day concerns, but to take time out to develop a plan. All those involved with the business should have bought into it and know what they were expected to deliver - then the benefits would be clear.
The background to the Food and Drink iNet, a regional network developed by the East Midlands Development Agency, aimed at co-ordinating specialist innovative support for businesses, individuals and academic institutions in the food and drink industry, was outlined by business adviser Rachel Linstead.