North East producers represent region at London event

The Lord Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, addressed over 600 senior food and hospitality industry delegates at an event in London recently, at which five of the North East’s food producers were selected to represent the region with a variety of their products.

The annual British Hospitality Association (BHA) annual luncheon was held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in Park Lane. The North East England Food and Drink Group (NEEFDG) exhibited products from some of the region’s leading food producers at the event as part of a showcase by the Alliance of Regional Food and Drink groups.

Borderfields, producers of the Northumbrian rapeseed oil Oleifera, was in the NEEFDG display along with Chain Bridge Honey Farm of Berwick, Jenkins and Hustwit cake makers of County Durham, Heatherslaw Bakery of Northumberland and Consett based Tanfield Food Company Ltd, producers of Look What We Found! gourmet ready meals.

Sandy Duncan, lead programme manager for the North East England Food and Drink Group, said: “The British Hospitality Association annual luncheon is a prestigious and lively event at which hoteliers and restaurateurs get the chance to sample some of the best food from across the UK and discuss issues facing the hospitality industry.

“It was a great privilege to display a selection of North East produce at such a high profile event and the feedback we received from delegates was extremely positive.

“There was also general support at the luncheon to further the claims of domestic tourism, a sector which is integral to the food and drink industry and of great importance to the North East. I would encourage any hospitality provider who is interested in the outstanding range of North East produce to contact NEEFDG today.”