A Bright Future For Lancashire

The sector is worth around £734 million to Lancashire’s economy – having grown by £129 million over the past six years – and supports an estimated 12,937 employees.

Ruth Connor, chief executive of Marketing Lancashire said, “We have ambitious and exciting plans for Lancashire, and the food and drink sector will play a very significant role in our strategy to showcase the county.

“Lancashire is plentiful with authentic, quality food and drink sourced from the county’s stunning coasts and countryside and the sector is worth around £734 million to Lancashire’s visitor economy; accounting for 20% of tourism revenue and supporting nearly 13,000 food and drink related jobs.

“Our aim is to promote restaurateurs, hoteliers, chefs, producers and retailers more than ever before and for us all collectively to champion local produce and share our pride in the Lancashire food and drink offer on a local, national and international scale.

“The county currently attracts over 63 million annual visitors and we are in no doubt that Lancashire’s incredible food and drink will be key to establishing Lancashire as a world class visitor destination and to driving more growth for the visitor economy”.

Ian Steel, Atkinson’s Coffee Roasters said, “By bringing together the entire band of Lancashire’s Local Food Heroes under one roof, we ensure that our message about our greatest gastronomic delights gets across with a genuine tone of voice. By hearing from those who invest their time, energy & talent into keeping the many traditions alive in our county & those who innovate to ensure the future vitality of our food & drink sector, we are listening to one voice who believe in what they are doing. Intent on growing together to improve our world class offering in a generous spirit of collaboration, so typical of the Lancastrian approach!”

Matthew Fort, food and drink writer said, “Lancashire needs to be a brand and needs to stand shoulder to shoulder to achieve it.  There’s a history of co-operative working in Lancashire as well as authenticity and tradition, which can be built into strong food experiences that make a visit to Lancashire compelling.”

“Lancashire needs to promote the things that happen here, are grown here, can be experienced and tasted nowhere else in the country. Revealing the unexpected about the county will give Lancashire standout appeal.”