“Very helpful” – “A great idea” – “A really positive step” –  just some of the thoughts of the county’s food and drink producers, suppliers and venues at the launch of ‘Made in Northamptonshire’ – a new networking group for those within the local food and drink sector.

The group was launched at Beckworth Emporium in Mears Ashby on Tuesday 18^th January and is aimed at giving members an opportunity to meet others from the industry, share expertise, discuss issues and promote themselves. It will stage quarterly meetings, have its own social networking site and act as a point of contact for answering local food and drink sourcing questions.

Among those who attended the launch was James Evans of Pastures Poultry in Yardley Hastings, who feels that the group could be of real value to his business. “This is a great idea because buying local has never been more important and so this is a chance to meet people from the industry and make new connections.”

Meanwhile John Crossan, the Manager of The Royal Oak at Eydon, left the launch event with a new contact already made. “We’re always looking to buy local where we can and we think we may even have found a new supplier on our doorstep from this launch. Plus we’ve been offered some advice on where we might find some well-qualified restaurant staff locally – so coming to the event has certainly been worthwhile!”

 Guests were invited to enjoy a welcome bacon sandwich before the official proceedings got underway with some brief speeches, a food quiz and an informal networking session. Among the speakers were Rachel Mallows of The Mallows Company, who has set up the group, Kate Dent, Head of Tourism from Northamptonshire Enterprise Limited, which facilitates the Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards, and Jo Murphy from the East Midlands Food and Drink iNet.

As Rachel explained, the group has been established to build on the success of the Carlsberg UK Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards. “When local producers, chefs and venues take part in the Awards, they’re up against once other, but this group is about helping businesses to take off those competitive oven gloves to support each other and work together to enhance what they do! I think the reaction from today’s founder members shows just why such a group is so important and how it might help to promote Northamptonshire’s food and drink sector to a wider audience.”

 Meanwhile, in her launch speech, Kate Dent, said the group will act as a real boost to the local visitor economy. “The food and drink sector is worth £150m to us and we’re really pleased to be supporting this venture as part of our ‘Made in Northamptonshire’ campaign across the county’s creative arts.”

‘Made in Northamptonshire’ is aimed at:

• producers wishing to find new markets and to work collaboratively
• retail outlets wanting to sell the ‘best of Northamptonshire’
• chefs and eateries looking to source good local produce
• county food and drink businesses which support local business
• people who love the ‘buy local’ philosophy

The next meeting will take place on 3^rd March as part of the Northamptonshire Tourism Forum at the Kettering Park Hotel .  Membership is FREE and open to anyone from the food and drink sector who would like to join. For further information, please visit www.letyourselfgrow/local or email anna@rachelmallows.com or call 01933 664437.