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Chester Food & Drink Festival 2006

First Awards Sponsor Signed in Record Deal for Chester Food and Drink Festival 2006

Shell UK is to be the first Chester Food & Drink Festival Awards sponsor in a record deal announced today. Shell UK has chosen to sponsor the Young Chef of the Year Award for 2006.

The deal includes brand promotion on Festival materials including the Festival brochure and judging at the event in January which will shortlist the young chefs down to the final four finalists. Shell UK will also be involved at the cook off in the Festival’s Taste Marquee on 15th April 2006 when the finalists cook their chosen menu. Finally, a representative will present the award to the winner at the Gala Dinner on Tuesday 18th April 2006.

Edward Brady, Public Affairs Manager, Shell UK said: “Shell UK is delighted to be associated with the 2006 Chester Food and Drink Festival and in particular, the award for ‘Young Chef of the Year’. Shell as a company is committed to the region and the development of skills and excellence, particularly amongst its young people.”

Stephen Wundke, chairman of the Chester Food and Drink Festival; “This sponsorship deal is fantastic news. Securing support for the awards from a major company like Shell UK is a real boost and will help us raise the festival profile nationally and internationally.” He continued; “We aim to hold a food and drink festival that matches the best in Britain – a real community event that not only helps people discover all the healthy and top quality produce available locally, but inspires them to enjoy food and drink even more.”

Plans for next year continue at a pace to make next year’s Festival even bigger and better with further sponsors and the celebrity chefs to be announced.

For more information about other events happening over the Chester Food & Drink Festival please visit www.chesterfoodanddrink.com.

Chester’s Food and Drink Festival is organised on behalf of Cheshire County Council and Chester City Council with support from the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), Cheshire & Warrington Tourism Board, Made in Cheshire and North West Fine Foods.

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The Chester Food and Drink Festival was recently featured on Granada TV’s ‘Grub’s Up!’ It is planned to be even bigger and better for 2006. The Taste Marquee will be open 15 – 17 April 2006, Easter Saturday to Easter Monday. The Food and Drink Fringe Festival will also take place around the City from 12 – 22 April 2006. The Festival has been revamped under the guidance of a new industry-led committee. This new approach has also been responsible for boosting the involvement of local producers and attracting commercial sponsorship.

The 2005, 4th Chester Food and Drink Festival saw 64 producers from Cheshire and nearby counties became part of the Festival by exhibiting their produce to over six thousand food and drink lovers in the Taste Marquee for the first time. Most visitors were able to take home produce and ideas from the three celebrity chefs at the Festival; James Martin, Simon Rimmer and Andrew Nutter who all played to packed audiences in the auditorium within the Taste Marquee. There were seminars in Micro Breweries, Honey Tasting, wines and Cheeses and the opportunity to taste local Pate, bread, cereals, oils, pies, meat, fish and liqueurs.

Evening events were varied and entertaining, these will be expanded next year. ‘The Champagne & Sparkling Wine Tasting Evening’ was held on the Marquee’s first day, with many tasters attending to sample eight different types of Champagne and sparkling wine from around the world, including Moet et Chandon, Veuve Clicquot, Mumm ‘Cuvee Napa’ from the USA and ‘Green Point’ from Australia. This will be held next year on Saturday 15th April.

The Cocktail event attracted over 100 attendees and is to be held next year on Easter Monday 17th April and the Gala Dinner and awards ceremony meant that over 250 people sampled a menu sourced from leading producers in the North West. This will be held on Tuesday 18th April 2006.

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