M&S supports real food & farming at Abergavenny Food Festival 2017

M&S supports real food & farming at Abergavenny Food Festival 2017
Not just any sponsor… M&S announced as headline sponsor for this year’s Abergavenny Food Festival
Main festival activity runs 16th & 17th September 2017
The Marks & Spencer food team are heading to this year’s Abergavenny Food Festival as principle sponsor for 2017.

Bringing with them their unique take on British food, M&S will be showcasing listed Welsh producers in their own M&S marquee, with a packed programme of activity to be announced. Expect to find chef demos and product tastings in the marquee, as well as an event on Saturday 16th featuring Marks & Spencer, festival CEO Aine Morris, the Welsh Assembly food team, and other experts in their field, to offer business incubator support and advice to new food businesses. If new food producers would like to enquire about attending this event please contact letty@abergavennyfoodfestival.com.

There will also be a Tea for Macmillan coffee morning, raising money for the charity.

The M&S marquee will be located in our Lower Brewery Yard, Street Food and Night Market, for the duration of the festival. Visitors are also likely to spot Colin the Caterpillar and Percy Pig, in this his 25th birthday year, around the festival over the weekend.

Marks & Spencer’s Kirsty Grieve says; “We’re really excited to be sponsoring the Abergavenny Food Festival for the first time this year. From a personal perspective, this event is one of the highlights of my year, and from a brand perspective it’s the perfect fit as M&S is passionate about supporting regional producers and farmers across Wales and beyond.”

She continues: “We look forward to bringing some of our fantastic suppliers to the festival and to meet people that are as excited about great food and drink as we are.”

Festival Chief Executive, Aine Morris said of M&S support for this year’s festival; “The link between producers, farmers and the retailers in this country is of huge importance in terms of supporting a vibrant economy for high-quality, British products. M&S have a history of working closely with their suppliers, supporting British producers, and providing the chance for smaller food businesses to bring their goods to a bigger market. It’s fantastic that Marks & Spencer have decided to support the festival this year, and are willing to step-up and be part of the conversation about the future of UK food and farming.”

The main festival takes place in the town on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th September this year, featuring an expanded Producers’ Market showcasing the very best Great British food, book signings, the returning Night Market on Saturday 16th, and activities for kids and families including a new edible education space with plenty of opportunities to get little hands dirty.

Access to the festival is with a weekend or day wristband (excluding ticketed events) which can be purchased online via the new-look website abergavennyfoodfestival.com now. NP7 postcode residents are entitled to a 10% discount on wristbands purchased in advance online.

2017 is Abergavenny Food Festival’s 19th year running and reaches 35,000 people of a 2-day festival weekend.