NFU pulls out of BBC food show

24 November 1999



NFU pulls out of BBC food show

By Donald MacPhail

MORE than 100,000 visitors are expected to visit Britains biggest consumer food show this week – but the countrys largest farming union wont be there.

The BBC Good Food Show, at the Birmingham NEC, includes a speciality food from Britain area, but the National Farmers Union has decided to stay away.

Fifty exhibitors are promoting everything from, lamb, beef and turkey to ostrich and water buffalo, but the union has left it to farmers to represent themselves.

The NFU has been involved in the past, but a spokesperson said it was not taking part this year because of operational and staff changes.

The Meat and Livestock Commission is also absent, preferring to limit its involvement to backing the pig industry support group Ladies in Pigs.

“We took a strategic decision not to attend those sort of events,” said an MLC spokesman.

“We found we were reaching a very small number of people in a very expensive manner. We would, to a great extent, be preaching to the converted anyway.

“Wed rather attend farming shows as we feel this is a better use of resources and a better way to reach people more effectively.”

The BBC Good Food Show, which includes seven themed zones, 14 dedicated pavilions and 19 interactive theatres, runs 24-28 November.

The day after the show closes, the NFU will hold a seminar on food marketing and supply-chain issues in Telford, Shropshire.

Farmers, growers, manufacturers and retailers will listen to speeches from representatives of the NFU, Marks & Spencer and Hazlewoods.