Press Releases

Heart Of England Fine Foods

24 Aug 2011

Wenlock Hampers Make Trade Show Debut

Press Release

September 2011

Wenlock Hampers Make Trade Show Debut

Wenlock Hampers, recently launched by food group HEART of ENGLAND fine foods (HEFF), will be showcased at Speciality and Fine Food Fair.

Speciality and Fine Food Fair is the UK's leading trade event for showcasing local, regional and speciality food and drink and will be held at London Olympia from 4-6 September.

Wenlock Hampers have been launched by HEFF to celebrate Shropshire’s historical links with the Olympic Games. Wenlock is regarded as the birthplace of the modern Olympics having been founded by Dr William Penny Brooks of Much Wenlock. To recognise this the Wenlock Hampers contain artisan food and drink products sourced from local producers within a 26.2 mile radius of Wenlock – a marathon’s distance. All the products in the hampers come from HEFF members so buyers can rest assured that the products meet strict health and safety guidelines.

As well as being enjoyed for their Olympic connection, Wenlock Hampers also make fantastic Christmas gifts and will soon be available for retailers for their Christmas offering. The hampers come in various sizes of traditional wicker basket and presentation boxes which will be on display at the HEFF stands 544 and 444. Wenlock Hampers will be available to buy from mid September through the new HEFF online shop www.heff.co.uk/shop

There will also be six HEFF producers exhibiting under the HEFF banner showcasing their products to potential buyers; Tyrrells Potato Crisps, Wenlock Spring Water, Celtic Marches Beverages, Lodge Farm Kitchen, The Flavoured Butter Company, Smoke and Pickle.

For more information on HEFF and Wenlock Hampers call 01743 452818 or visit www.heff.co.uk

ENDS

Notes to Editors

HEART of ENGLAND fine foods press office: Laura Bradbeer
Telephone: 01743 452818
Email press@heff.co.uk

HEART of ENGLAND fine foods (HEFF) was formed in 1998 to promote and raise awareness of food and drink within the heart of England including Shropshire, Staffordshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire and Birmingham and the Black Country. HEFF is based at the Shropshire Food Enterprise Centre, Battlefield Enterprise Park, Shrewsbury.

Through an extensive programme, the organisation helps the region’s food and drink businesses to develop and create profitable and sustainable markets for their products.

How is Wenlock Linked to the Olympic Games?
Dr William Penny Brookes, who lived the majority of his life in Much Wenlock, Shropshire, is regarded as the founder of the modern Olympic Games. He was a campaigner for physical fitness and came up with the idea of holding an annual games for local people to take part in. The first event was held in 1859 and he founded the Wenlock Olympic Society a year later.

In 1890 Dr William Penny Brookes was visited by a young French aristocrat called Baron Pierre de Coubertin who was so inspired by the Games that, following discussions with Brookes, he set up the International Olympic Committee in 1894 and the first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens in 1896.

Projects managed by HEART of ENGLAND fine foods on behalf of the West Midlands Food Partnership are part-funded by Advantage West Midlands, the European Regional Development Fund and the Rural Development Plan for England.