At Quattro Foods we’ve always supported local businesses, from farmers and growers to other production line suppliers like storage and transport, we work with many contractors from the South Coast of England, and we buy as much produce as possible from businesses close to our Portsmouth HQ.
As a British business we feel immense pride in the food grown and manufactured on our shores and we’re delighted to read that a report published by cross-party MPs is calling for geographical protections for British foods. This means that food grown and produced in the UK will be formally recognised as British and that high-quality home-grown fare will finally get the international recognition it deserves.
The report shows that the British Isles have ‘untapped potential’ for geographically protected foods and sets out a number of recommendations about building stronger food brands. A target has been set for 200 registered GIs for the UK by 2030. This is a huge step towards offering real support to the British businesses that feed us.
What’s a GI?
GIs are foods with a Geographical Indication – products with specific geographical qualities related to their place of origin. The UK’s culinary reputation has never ranked highly internationally. Fish ‘n’ chips and Yorkshire pud were about the best we could do until fairly recently. Although the last two decades have seen British food improve at an astonishing and exciting pace, we have still had only three GI accreditations since leaving the EU in 2021.
Say cheese!
Who are these local heroes who’ve hit the headlines? Yorkshire Wensleydale cheese is one. We all know it’s creamy and delicious but the GI means cheese-lovers from anywhere in the world are guaranteed they are buying the real thing, at home and abroad.
Real taste, authentic story
Food consumption is no longer just about taste. Increasingly consumers are seeking a story behind a brand – and the GI lets them know about the heritage of the foods they’re eating. It also means that consumers can support local producers – and know that they’re buying premium quality products.
There are so many wonderful UK growers, farmers and producers working hard to provide us with excellent food. The more products that are awarded GIs, the better we can showcase the best of British, here and further afield.
As one of the UK’s leading food suppliers and manufacturers, Quattro Foods provides services across the food manufacturing, hospitality, foodservice, wholesale and retail sectors as well as to the UN and the NHS. We are committed to nurturing the UK food industry and we hope that this new blueprint reaps rewards.
British produce is fresh, exciting and full of flavour and we will continue to innovate with these amazing ingredients to create the best products for our customers. Fingers crossed that many more of our brands will be formally recognised with GI foods in the near future.
Watch out world – British food is forging a path in taste excellence!