Press Releases 2008

19 May 2008

Royal Show Conference to tackle farming’s ‘Big Issues’ and British food opportunity

Two huge debates will take centre-stage at the 2008 Royal Show Conference: British farming’s ‘Big Issues’ and British food and food service opportunities. The debates are timely given that the industry is on the cusp of significant opportunity driven by a rapidly growing global commodity demand and closer to home, a burgeoning British food market. However the road to profit could be fraught with trouble as input costs spiral and the supply of essential resources like fuel and water become more limited.

The first Conference, chaired by David Kidney MP, is ‘The Big Issues – food security, water and global commodity demands’. The Conference runs from 2.30-4.30pm on Thursday 3rd July and is sponsored by McDonald’s Restaurants Ltd. Peter Kendall will be first to the floor to tackle the issues surrounding food security. He says: “Price spikes in many agricultural products, particularly grains and dairy products have attracted unprecedented media coverage across the world. We have seen the Prime Minister addressing the issue of food and energy security in a way that would have been unthinkable by any Minister in the last 30 years.”

Richard Whitlock, Industrial Crops Director for Frontier Agriculture will follow by looking at the drivers for world prices and commodity demand. Dr Colin Merritt from Monsanto will then debate whether GM and molecular genetics form part of the solution to the food security and fuel dilemmas. “Crops in development offer to help to secure adequate supplies of food and fuel from the same, or less, land area, but without increased inputs of water, energy or chemical products.”

On the subject of water, Dr Jerry Knox a water resources specialist from Cranfield University will look at the implications of the UK’s limited water resources. He will consider future water availability and water demand, and how agribusinesses and individuals might respond and adapt to changes in water availability.

Dean McKenna, McDonald’s Head of Supply Chain, commented: “McDonald’s is proud to support UK agriculture, with our supply chain spending over £460 million in 2007 to ensure we deliver high quality menu choices to our two million daily customers.

“McDonald’s recognises the importance of supporting its suppliers and is a leading driver of change, continually working to tackle issues facing the industry. At the conference, we will use our customer knowledge and insight to offer a fresh perspective on issues raised at conference including water resources, GM foods, crop prices and food security”.

British food and food service opportunities

Sponsored by the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) and chaired by CLA Vice-President, Harry Cotterell, the Conference on Friday 4th July from 10.30am-12.30pm, will discuss what the resurgent interest in British food really holds by way of opportunity for British farmers.

Peter Allen is Managing Director of Aubrey Allen Catering Butchers and delicatessen, a specialist meat company based in Coventry which supplies some of the finest chefs in the UK, including: Raymond Blanc, Rick Stein and Heston Blumenthal. His business pays a premium to his farmer suppliers, but for a farmer to achieve these, he demands quality, flavour and consistency of product.

Then will be the turn of Andreas Antona, a Restaurateur who won a coveted Michelin star and is recognised as one of Britain’s finest chefs. Andreas will discuss what is important to him as a fine dining service provider, and just what it takes to meet his exacting standards.

Over then to Mark Price at Waitrose, one of the longest-standing supporters of British produce who will tell conference goers just what his business expects from their producers. Waitrose sources UK produce where possible, including 100% British fresh chicken, beef, pork, milk, cream and eggs. “Waitrose is the only supermarket in Europe which works a comprehensive primary agricultural producer group structure, with over 30 groups in total,” he says.

LEAF farmer turned food manufacturer, Duncan Farrington, will then talk about setting up Farrington Oils Ltd, producing Mellow Yellow cold pressed rapeseed oil which is now sold throughout the UK and Ireland. Duncan will outline some of the ideas, pitfalls and successes in his fledgling business, relating the growth of such farm diversified food businesses with the British consumer’s renewed interest in regional food, health, taste and environmental issues.

Finally, Yorkshire-based Andrew Keeble will be talking premium his premium sausage brand Debbie & Andrews. He and his wife, Debbie, were struggling pig farmers with over 20 years experience who started a small diversification business in 1999 making locally produced sausages. They now sell their sausages nationwide via their website and several of the major supermarkets. Andrew will be sharing the secrets of their success and how they have grown the brand while keeping true to their core ethics. Andrew will also talk about the importance of knowledge of the retailer and consumer and that specialist customer and multiple insight can make or break a brand.

Bookings for the Conference are free of charge to Royal Show visitors. To book a seat (limited to 150 for each Conference), go to www.royalshow.org.uk/conference

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For further information:

Julie Bublaitis
Royal Show Marketing Assistant
T: 02476 858217