Sussex food partnership deal signed

The Southern Co-operative has contributed £5,000 and signed a three-year agreement with Chichester College to work together on boosting the local food and drink industry in Sussex.

At a ceremony at the Brinsbury Campus of Chichester College, Principal Shelagh Legrave and Chief Executive of The Southern Co-operative, Mark Smith, agreed to work together through the Centre of Excellence for Regional Food & Drink, opened earlier this year.

“As an independent co-operative with stores only in the South of England, we seek to offer a genuine regional alternative to national food retailers. As part of this we are committed to supporting local food and drink producers wherever we can and we will be investigating the feasibility of setting up a regional food hub to assist with local produce distribution,” said Mark Smith, CEO of The Southern Co-operative.

“The college has created a great concept in the Centre of Excellence and I am sure there is much that we will be able to do together to build on this to the benefit of the whole local food sector in Sussex.”

Cllr Roger Paterson, Cabinet Member for Economic Development at Horsham District Council and Governor of the college, attended the ceremony, lending his support to the scheme.

“We have a thriving food and drink industry in Sussex and we want to do everything we can to support Brinsbury's new Centre of Excellence For Local Food & Drink, and to promote the skills training it provides for both its students and the region's food and drink community. It’s also great to be working with The Southern Co-operative, which has such strong environmental and community principles.”

Said Shelagh Legrave, Principal of Chichester College, “We created the Centre of Excellence for Regional Food and Drink to help bring together and provide special support for the industry and are already providing unique networking and experience sharing opportunities, supported by well-known regional food industry expert Hilary Knight.”

“Working with The Southern Co-operative, we also want to focus on developing vocational training, both for our own students and for adults already working in the industry and we are very excited to be moving forward together on this today.”

Food produced in Sussex is already available at selected Southern co-operative stores in Sussex and will be featured in a new store development in Hove opening in December.

2010/11 Sussex Food & Drink Awards finalists announced

Finalists for the Sussex Food & Drink Awards 2011/12 have been announced by judges following their deliberations held at the American Express Community stadium in November.

Twenty four of the county’s best food and drink heroes have made it through to make a tasty final line up and will find out if they won at the Sussex foodie event of the year, the Sussex Food & Drink Awards banquet, on 26^th January at the American Express Community Stadium, for which tickets are now on sale.

Said Clive Beddall OBE, Chairman of the Judges: “The awards continue to grow in popularity with a record number of people, close to 11,000, voting for hundreds of their favourite Sussex farmers, food and drink producers, young chefs, food/farm shops, butchers, eateries and farmers markets.

“We have seen a record number of different businesses and individuals receiving votes this year – familiar, quality names have appeared again and we are excited to see many new names emerge, proving that these awards are reaching every corner of the county and that Sussex continues to produce some of the UK’s best food and drink heroes.”

The finalists are:

Sussex Food Producer of the Year sponsored by the Southern Co-operative:

· Caroline’s Dairy, Sidlesham, Nr Chichester, West Sussex – last year’s winner

· Daylands Farm, Ashurst, Nr Steyning, West Sussex

· High Weald Dairy, Horsted Keynes, West Sussex

Sussex Drink Producer of the Year sponsored by the Sussex Food & Drink Network:

· Highdown Vineyard, Ferring, Nr Littlehampton, West Sussex

· W J King Brewers, Horsham, West Sussex

· Wobblegate Apple Juice, Bolney, West Sussex

Best Sussex Food/Farm Shop sponsored by the South Downs National Park Authority:

· Cheese Please, Lewes, East Sussex – winners last two years

· Sharnfold Farm, Stone Cross, Nr Pevensey, East Sussex

· Sussex Produce Company, Steyning, West Sussex – finalist last two years, winner three years ago

Sussex Butcher of the Year sponsored by Natural Farms

· Bramptons Butchers, Brighton – finalist four years ago

· S K Hutchings, Partridge Green, West Sussex – finalist last year and 4 years ago

· Westdene Butchers, Brighton, East Sussex – finalist 2 years ago

Best Sussex Eating Experience sponsored by Mayo Wynne Baxter Solicitors

· The Foragers, Hove, East Sussex – finalist three and four years ago

· Simply Delicious, Bognor Regis, West Sussex – finalists for the last two years

· Tottington Manor, Edburton, Nr Henfield, West Sussex

Sussex Young Chef of the Year sponsored by Natural PR

· Craig Holden, The Mill House Hotel, Ashington, West Sussex

· Rob Lightbody, Jeremy’s Restaurant, Borde Hill Gardens, Nr Haywards Heath, West Sussex

· Paul Peach, The Horse Guards Inn, Tillington, West Sussex

Sussex Farmer of the Year sponsored by Knill James

· Robin and Kevin Ashby, Willetts Farm, Blackham, East Sussex.

· Steve and Phil Hook, Longleys Farm, Hailsham, East Sussex – winner three years ago

· Jenny & Trevor Passmore, Church Farm, Coombes, Lancing, West Sussex – last year’s winner

Best Sussex Farmers Market sponsored by Harveys

· Lewes Farmers Market, Lewes, East Sussex – finalist last year

· Shoreham Farmers Market, Shoreham, West Sussex - finalist for past four years and winner three years ago

· Steyning Farmers Market, Steyning, West Sussex

The Sussex Food & Drink Awards banquet is to be held for the first time at the American Express Community Stadium on 26^th January 2012. The move to this fantastic new venue has been made by organisers, Natural PR, to ensure that demand for tickets can be met as last year’s event was a sell out.

This black tie event promises to be the best yet, starting with a Sussex bubbly and ale reception sponsored by Harveys, followed by a seven course banquet made from the very best local produce by executive chef Fred Tobin and sous chef Neil Paton, including fish, fruits, cheeses and other Sussex goodies.

Said, Paula Seager, MD of Natural PR which organises the awards: “The awards ceremony is always such a fantastic evening and this year’s banquet is going to be a true celebration of the amazing food and drink that Sussex has to offer. A sense of anticipation builds throughout the evening until winners are announced and trophies presented BAFTA-style with host Danny Pike from BBC Sussex. There is nothing contrived or stuffy about these awards, just a lively and fun celebration of our Sussex food heroes.”

Visit the website www.sussexfoodawards.biz to find out how to buy tickets for this fabulous event or call Natural PR on 01273 857242 for more information.

Sussex Foodie News November 2011

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