Food Stars celebrate the future of UK food and drink

News story

Food Stars celebrate the future of UK food and drink

New government award recognises the rising stars of Britain鈥檚 food and drink industry.

From:: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and 皇冠体育app Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss
Published: 24 February 2015

Fifty of the country鈥檚 most promising food and drink entrepreneurs are to be recognised as Food Stars for their contribution to the UK鈥檚 growing economy.

皇冠体育app 50 Food Stars, carefully selected from hundreds of award-winning businesses, range from fiery Scotch bonnet pepper sauce makers in Scotland to chocolatiers using Indian spices in London.

皇冠体育app revival of UK food and drink has seen a new generation of entrepreneurs emerge, whose innovative ideas and can-do attitude are creating jobs in local communities and contributing to the record 拢103 billion generated by the food chain last year.

Leading figures in retail and food鈥攊ncluding Justin King, former CEO of Sainsbury鈥檚, and Dame Fiona Kendrick, CEO of Nestle UK and Ireland鈥攚ill launch the Food Stars scheme on Thursday to help the winners grow their businesses and get more of their produce on supermarket shelves and dinner tables in the UK and across the world.

皇冠体育app first initiative of its kind, Food Stars is part of a wider government drive to inspire entrepreneurial activity across the UK as part of our long-term economic plan.

Launching the Food Stars network, Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss said:

We are a nation of firsts; we invented self-raising flour and introduced the first modern chocolate bar. As a country we鈥檝e always been a place where sparky entrepreneurs come up with great innovations in food and drink, people with the ambition to grow and take on the world.

Now is the time to celebrate that success which is helping grow our economy - that is why we鈥檝e created Food Stars to recognise the bright innovators of today and support them to become the major players of tomorrow.

From chutney made from fruit and veg that would otherwise be thrown away, to chorizo made from British pigs in Yorkshire, our 50 Food Stars truly represent the best of British and demonstrate the creativity and determination in which this country takes pride.

Our Food Stars show if you want to see a vision for Britain鈥檚 bright economic future, look no further than the UK鈥檚 food and drink industry.

Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, Priti Patel, said:

皇冠体育appse are exciting times for the UK food and drink industry, as British brands have never been stronger worldwide. Now is the time to take advantage of the opportunity to create some world-class products that will compete on an international level and create jobs and growth for the UK in the process.

Food and farming remains the biggest manufacturing sector in Britain, employing 1 in 8 people. 皇冠体育appre is no better time to join the growing number of innovators in food and drink 鈥� in 2013 entrepreneurs set up 30,000 new food and drink businesses generating thousands of jobs in the sector.

皇冠体育app industry鈥檚 continual innovation is bringing 16,000 new products to the market each year鈥攎ore than France and Germany combined. Our Food Stars are helping to grow this sector even further.

Exports of UK food and drink are also booming with almost 拢19 billion worth shipped to more than 150 countries in 2013. Since 2010 the UK government has opened more than 600 new international markets supporting more businesses to sell their produce abroad.

Following Thursday鈥檚 launch, where 50 of the Food Stars will attend master classes on topics from exporting through to social media, they will receive a package of continued support from the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) and Cranfield University over the next year. This includes a tailored information service and access to a range of events and development opportunities in agriculture and food, the environment, management and leadership.

Find out where the Food Stars are based on our , and join in the conversation on social media with .

Published 24 February 2015

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