A collective of Cumbrian food and drink businesses; known as ‘This Is Cumbria’, are attending the Farm Shop & Deli Show 2019, the sector’s leading event for delicatessens, farm shops, restaurants, food halls, butcheries and bakeries, at the NEC, Birmingham, between 8-10 April.

This is Cumbria came about after several Cumbrian food and drink producers who attended the Farm Shop and Deli Show 2018, noticed that the majority of business was being done on large county and regional showcase stands.

It’s no surprise that most regions and county’s attend the show in a unified way when you look at the figures… Overall the UK’s food and drink industry contributes £ 31.1 billion to the economy, is the largest manufacturing sector in the country, larger than automotive and aerospace combined, total food & drink export figures in 2018 were worth more than £23bn and the food supply chain employs 4 million people and generates over £121 billion of added value for the economy each year.

With figures like these in mind a small group of Cumbria’s food and drink businesses were determined to make sure that Cumbria’s producers didn’t miss out and had the best possible opportunity of attracting a good number of the 30,000 buyers heading to the 2019 show.

To that end, Maria Whitehead of Hawkshead Relish, Lisa Smith of Ginger Bakers, Jacqui and Keith Jackson of Thomas Jardine & Co and Sue Howorth from The Cumbria Family Business Network got together to set about creating Cumbria’s very own showcase pavilion… and ‘This is Cumbria’ was born.

The businesses representing Cumbria on the inaugural ‘This is Cumbria’ stand at the 2019 Farm Shop and Deli Show include John Farrer & Co Tea & Coffee Merchants, Hawkshead Relish, Ginger Bakers, Traybakes, Lakeland Artisan – Cumbrian Delights – Lakeland Liqueurs, Kin Vodka, The Toffee Shop, Pennington’s Spirits & Liqueurs, Shed 1 Distillery, The Pie Mill, Molly Rose Drinks and food safety consultants ML3 Technical Services.

Alongside these key Cumbrian food businesses and producer’s consultant chef Martin Frickel will be hosting cookery demonstrations utilising Cumbrian produce and food & drink journalist and broadcaster Nigel Barden will also be showcasing Cumbria’s producers throughout the show, as well as hosting a drinks reception on the stand (J71), on 9th April at 4:30pm.

Two Cumbrian companies Cartmell Shepherd and Enterprise Answers have kindly supported both the ‘Showcase Area’ and ‘Enterprise Zone’, within the ‘This Is Cumbria’ pavilion. The Showcase Area is designed to give emerging Cumbrian businesses on a limited budget the opportunity to showcase their products and services on a national footing alongside larger business. Whilst the Enterprise Zone provides ‘This is Cumbria’ exhibitors a space in which to meet with existing and potential customers.

Local brand and design agency, We Are Eclectic, have brought the ‘This is Cumbria’ brand to life, creating the logo and supporting visuals for the show and Printing Plus have also generously supported the event by printing the wall coverings for the exhibition pavilion.

Farm Shop & Deli Show is co-located with National Convenience Show, The Forecourt Show and the second instalment of The Ingredients Show. Together they will bring together suppliers from across the food and drink retail industry.

Farrer’s General Manager Dave Walsh said: ‘’ We are extremely excited to be exhibiting at the Farm Shop and Deli Show for the first time in what is our 200^th anniversary year alongside our partners who are part of the ‘This Is Cumbria’ initiative. We’re are all really looking forward to having the opportunity to showcase some of the very best artisan and speciality products from across Cumbria to a wide variety of suppliers from across the food and drink retail sector at what is the leading show of its type in the UK.’’

If you are attending the show, please come and see This is Cumbria, located opposite Farm Shop & Deli Live on stand number J71 in Hall 20.’’