Agency sponsors City Food Lecture

Thursday 23 March 2006

The Food Standards Agency is one of three new sponsors of the City Food Lecture, the annual event that takes place at London's historic Guildhall.

Set up six years ago by the seven City Livery Companies involved in the food industry (Bakers, Butchers, Cooks, Farmers, Fishmongers, Fruiterers and Poulters), the lecture attracts 600 of the UK's top food and drink figures.

The format consists of a high profile speaker addressing a topical food-related theme with a panel of experts responding to questions from the floor.

Food Standards Agency Chair Deirdre Hutton will chair the evening's proceedings. An announcement of the main speaker will be made shortly.

Laurence Olins, Chair of the 2007 organising committee and the architect of the event, said: 'We are delighted to have gained the support of three prominent sponsors and are particularly pleased to welcome the FSA's involvement.

'The good and the great of the food world always attend this notable occasion and we now look forward to welcoming the widest possible representative audience to Guildhall.'

The lecture itself will be sponsored by the Food Standards Agency. The Real Good Food Company will be providing the post lecture buffet supper for delegates, and Nestlé UK the accompanying wines and soft drinks.

Deirdre Hutton said: 'The Food Standards Agency is pleased to be supporting this event, which has been such a key date in the food and drink calendar.

'The City Food Lecture is an excellent opportunity to bring together all those with an interest in the production and quality of food - as producers, retailers, consumers and campaigners for a lively and challenging debate. We look forward to working with the City Livery Companies to ensure that the lecture is a success.'

The next lecture takes place on 23 January 2007.

Supermarket chain Sainsbury's sponsored the City Food Lecture for its first five years, between 2000 and 2005. There was no lecture in 2006 as new sponsors were being sought.