Food and drink economy to get boost with new scheme
Local sourcing and tourism initiatives are among the recommendations to help develop Leicester and Leicestershire’s £600m food and drink economy. Key ideas named in a blueprint document will now be trialled in six Everards pubs in the region.
The provision of food grade production units and an increase in vocationally led learning are also given as suggestions to enhance the region’s food and drink economy.
Commissioned by the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP), the strategy has been drawn up by East Midlands business support organisation The Food and Drink Forum in conjunction with the European Food and Farming Partnerships (EFFP).
Food and drink companies from across the county were consulted to establish a draft strategy.
Stephen Gould, managing director of Leicestershire brewery Everards, launched the details of a local sourcing pilot scheme that the company plans to trial.
Gould said: “We can act as a conduit for food manufacturers and food processors in Leicestershire to sell their food in our pubs. We want to work in a few of our pubs with several local food producers and manufacturers and blend their ideas onto our pub menus.
“We need to work out how to get the food to the pubs and manage the whole supply chain but I think it’s do-able and we can do it.”
The business plans a trial in six Everards pubs. It also hopes to provide space for retailers such as bakers, farm shops and delis at its premises in line with a similar scheme it has run for microbrewers.
