The Great Inns of Britain joined over 250 retailers and caterers at the launch of British Food Fortnight 2010. This high profile event saw HRH The Duchess of Cornwall and the BBC's 'Hairy Biker' chefs, Dave Myers and Simon King Hairy Bikers at Westminster Cathedral in London unite with key members of the food industry to urge retailers, caterers and consumers to support British farmers and producers, and ‘Buy British’.
Despite her broken leg, a wheelchair bound Duchess of Cornwall enthused about British food and produce strong. She said:
"I'm a passionate believer in great British food.......Our children and grandchildren are the future of good British food. And that's why British Food Fortnight is so important."
To front this year’s campaign, a competition was launched by British Food Fortnight organisers to find the ‘Face of British Food Fortnight’. Fighting off stiff competition from over 100 nominees, James Potter, a farmer from Thirsk in North Yorkshire was announced by HRH The Duchess of Cornwall to be the ‘Face of British Food Fortnight 2010’.
PR guru and agent to the stars, Max Clifford selected James Potter to be the winner, from a final shortlist of 10 nominees. Max explained:
"James is, in my opinion, the perfect person to be the Face of British Food Fortnight 2010......he has a face full of charm, integrity and which exudes the outdoor life - a wonderful combination made even better by a huge smile.... He's got a face that both men and women will relate to in a positive way and, for me, is the ideal person to be the poster boy for British farming and food”.
His prize, a £300 Great Inns of Britain gift voucher, enables James to stay at any of the 22 independently owned Great Inns, whose award winning menus using local and regionally sourced ingredients support British producers.
Sir Thomas Ingilby, co-founder of The Great Inns of Britain and owner of The Boar’s Head in Ripley, North Yorkshire said:
“I’m delighted to hear that a fellow Yorkshireman has been selected to be the Face of British Food Fortnight. As champions of British produce, from ingredients for our menus through to our real ales, The Great Inns felt it was important to offer our support to this national campaign, and we look forward to welcoming James to one of the Great Inns in the near future”.
James will now appear on the new Love British Food poster to be displayed nationwide during the BFF (18 September to 3 October 2010), and other promotional literature.
For more details on British Food Fortnight visit
www.lovebritishfood.co.uk