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Make it your business to be part of Hampshire Food Festival

04 January 2012

Businesses and organisations across Hampshire are invited to share in the success of the annual Hampshire Food Festival, held throughout July, by hosting an event celebrating local food and drink.

The 2011 Hampshire Food Festival, organised by county food group Hampshire Fare, attracted over 221,000 visitors to 93 different events hosted by 80 different organisations across Hampshire including hotels, restaurants, pubs, cafes, farms, local food and drink producers, cookery schools, shops, attractions, libraries, town centres and country shows. Research indicates that the 2011 Hampshire Food Festival benefitted the local economy by an estimated £3.82million.

The aim of the Hampshire Food Festival is to showcase local food and farming, and to encourage visitors to discover places across the whole of Hampshire where they can buy and enjoy locally sourced food and drink.

According to the Festival research, visitors to the Festival events most enjoyed tasting local food and drink, meeting local producers and supporting Hampshire food and drink businesses, discovering new places to eat in Hampshire and the celebration of local food and drink.

Chef James Martin and wine expert Olly Smith have already been confirmed to headline the Hampshire Food Festival as guests at Festival Place Food Festival in Basingstoke, 20-22 July.

Sophie Boxall of Hampshire Fare said: “The Hampshire Food Festival is a great way to promote your business or cause, and attracts huge interest. Last year, events included farm walks, brewery and vineyard tours, cookery demos and hands-on classes, children’s workshops, open days, celebratory lunches and dinners, barbecues and picnics, with local food and drink taking centre-stage throughout. Hampshire Fare can help with ideas, contacts, PR and marketing advice, which in turn helps to promote your business or organisation to a huge festival audience.” There are also sponsorship opportunities available.

The Hampshire Food Festival was South of England Enterprise winner in the Countryside Alliance Awards last year, and Highly Commended for ‘Tourism Event of the Year’ at the 2011 Beautiful South Awards for Excellence.

For more information about how to get involved in the 2011 Hampshire Food Festival, visit the Hampshire Food Festival page via the link below, or contact Sophie Boxall at Hampshire Fare on 01962 847098, sophie.boxall@hants.gov.uk.

The deadline to take part is 29 February.

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