Guide released to help farmers meet demand

Pub chains and hospitality firms have produced a free food service guide to help British farmers supply them with regional produce.

Seven hospitality firms have teamed up with the food and grocery think tank, the Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD), to launch the guide, which explains how producers can their requirements.

The seven companies are pub chains Mitchells & Butlers and Whitbread, catering firms Compass Group, Aramark and Sodexho and the food suppliers, Brakes and 3663.

The IGD said the move followed growing consumer demand for local products in the £33b eating-out-of-home market.

A Mitchells & Butlers spokeswoman said: "We are in the process of identifying small producers and farmers who can supply the right produce for us to meet our customer demands."

By Shirley Kumar

For more on the supply chain, see next week's supply chain focus in Caterer, starting on page 24.