HEATHCOTES OUTSIDE AT THE ACC LIVERPOOL LAUNCH HEATHCOTES FOOD HEROES

Monday, February 8, 2010

A search was launched today to find the North West's most fabulous food producers.

The Heathcotes Food Heroes competition is aiming to find the region's very best food producers - from farmers to fishermen.

The prize on offer is to become a supplier for Liverpool's premier event venue, ACC Liverpool, where their food will be eaten by everyone from pop stars to prime ministers.

Competitors, who must be based within a 50 mile radius of Liverpool, are being asked to submit their products to a judging panel of food and event catering experts, led by Paul Heathcote and Gary Bates.

Gary, managing director of Heathcotes Outside, which supplies all the catering at ACC Liverpool, said: "We are looking for the best berries, crunchiest carrots and tastiest tomatoes the region has to offer.

"We want to give all regional food producers the opportunity to demonstrate to us that their products are the best in their field and worthy of being served to guests at the venue. If they are, we will use them in our menus. It really is that simple.

"We already have a number of local suppliers on our books and are well aware of the quality of food that is produced in the region. Hopefully this search will help us identify more top-quality items we can use in our dishes and simultaneously help us provide further support to the region's food industry - we are searching for the unusual, the forgotten and the best kept secrets"

Bob Prattey, chief executive of ACC Liverpool said: "As the greenest conference and exhibition venue in the UK, food miles and sustainability are very high on our agenda. Therefore, the more ingredients we can source from our own doorstep the better.

"ACC Liverpool is a major part of the economic regeneration of the city region and to spread that regeneration out into the region's food production industry is a further demonstration of our commitment to supporting regional businesses."