The podcast investigates the relationship between farming, sourcing and the hospitality sectors, and how everyone can work together.
As Minette Batters says the 鈥渙ut of home [market] is an exciting opportunity and represents 50% of the UK food market鈥�.
Eating out is a treat market and massively important to people鈥檚 wellbeing. During this episode, we learn how farmers and the hospitality trade can explore ways of adding value to the eating out experience, and the value of 鈥渟torytelling鈥� 鈥� allowing consumers to discover the farmer behind the food.
James Clark, NFU Director of Communications, hosts the podcast, highlighting that the provenance of food is important to consumers eating out and that the 鈥渆xperience鈥� of eating out is as important as value for money.
Consistency and availability of product is key for the hospitality trade and, as Mr Martin notes, 鈥測ou can鈥檛 cook a credit note鈥�.
Promoting the importance of building trust, developing supply chains and working closely together is what's needed in order to illustrate that this sector is as important as the retail sector, especially given hospitality鈥檚 focus on sustainability and the ability of farmers to help the industry tell that story. Champions are needed on both sides to drive growth and grasp the scale of the opportunity.
Listen now for some food for thought and be inspired by the opportunities ahead:
Meet the speakers:
Minette Batters
Former NFU President
Diversification includes the conversion of a 17th century tithe barn into a wedding and corporate events venue, and horse liveries. Minette co-founded the campaigning initiatives 'Ladies in Beef' and the 'Great British Beef Week'.
Campaigning on behalf of NFU members about the importance of British food and farming has been a key driver for Minette throughout her time at the NFU. In 2020 she led one of the most successful petitions ever, bringing together a coalition of chefs, including Jamie Oliver, farmers, environmentalists, consumer groups and animal welfare experts 鈥� resulting in over one million people signing the NFU food standards petition. She has also regularly engaged with different media genres including appearances on Desert Island Discs, Question Time, and Any Questions.
She has been an NFU member from grassroots through to County Chair; she served as Wiltshire鈥檚 Council delegate and also as Regional Board Chair for the South West. Minette has also been a member of NFU Governance Board and served as NFU Deputy President for four years from 2014 to 2018, before being elected as president in February 2018. Minette is also an ambassador of Farm Africa and was made a Deputy Lieutenant to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth in 2021.
Officeholder responsibilities聽
- Trade and standards
- EU and international relations
- Taxation and fiscal policy
- Science and research and development
- Food supply chain (fair dealing, Markets and Authorities, competition, regulation)
- Food service
- AHDB
- Levelling up
- Education
James Clark
NFU Director of Communications
He made the move to communications, joining The Ministry of Defence, where he was Director of News for the department and Press Secretary to two Secretaries of State. He joined the private sector in senior communications and government relations roles in-house, and as an agency director.
James joins the NFU from Toyota GB PLC, where he was Head of Press and Public Affairs for the Toyota, Lexus and Kinto brands.
Originally from the New Forest, James lives with his family in a village in Oxfordshire where he enjoys rural pursuits as well as taking old cars apart and wondering why they won鈥檛 go back together again.
Peter Martin
Founder and Executive Director of Peach 20/20
Peter is the Founder and Executive Director of is hospitality's premier networking forum for senior executives.
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