Local shops, restaurants, pubs and cafes are being encouraged to join the Sussex Six campaign, aiming to make more Sussex food and drink available on menus and shop shelves across Horsham District and wider Sussex.
At a business launch event held at Kinsbrook Vineyard and Farm Shop this week, Nick Hempleman, founder of The Sussex Produce Company, said: “Sussex has such a wonderful range of local produce and it’s good for the local economy and for the environment to sell and serve it. But most importantly it is good for your businesses.
“More and more people are looking for delicious, locally produced food and drink to buy and when eating out. It’ll put money in the till and money back in the local economy.”
The campaign which is funded by Horsham District Council and organised by Natural Partnerships CIC, invites local hospitality and retail businesses to pledge to take on just six new Sussex products over the next year and they will be highlighted as part of a major two-year campaign in the autumn.
Cllr Ruth Fletcher, Horsham District Council Cabinet Member for the Local Economy, commented: “I am really pleased that the Council is supporting the Sussex Six campaign and I was delighted to hear of the strong support from such a broad mix of local food and drink businesses at the business launch event.
“Food and drink is a real success story for the Horsham District with an increasing number of high quality growers and producers supplying our restaurants, cafes, hotels and independent shops. It is a win, win for both the local economy and the local environment. I would urge as many businesses as possible to sign up to the ‘Sussex Six’ challenge.”
To find out more and join the campaign, interested businesses should visit the Sussex Six pages of Sussexfoodanddrink.org , which is a local food & drink directory.
To stay up to date on the latest news, businesses can also subscribe to www.hdcbusiness.news
The Sussex Six campaign is the result of the Plate Up Local initiative, which started with a major business workshop event at Wiston Wine Estate last July, with guest speakers including celebrity chef and MasterChef Winner Kenny Tutt.
