Tuesday 3 January 2012

New membership structure introduced by business support organisation The Food and Drink Forum

Business support organisation The Food and Drink Forum has launched a new membership structure to offer more flexible grades.

The Forum, which has been supporting food and drink companies since 1998, has also boosted the range of offers available to members.

“Previously our membership grades focused on the size of a business, but we have changed the grades available to allow members to choose the level that best suits their needs. It also offers them the flexibility to move from one grade to another from year to year, depending on their stage of development,” said Food and Drink Forum managing director Fiona Anderson.

“The new structure has been introduced in response to feedback from members and we hope it will provide more value.”

The Food and Drink Forum, which is based in the Business Centre at Southglade Food Park, Nottingham, and operates in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Rutland and across the UK, provides a range of different services to food and drink firms.

Advice, expertise, business support, training, production and technical services, sales and marketing advice and lead generation are just some of the services on offer. In addition, members can also benefit from the use of business facilities, meeting rooms and a new product development kitchen at Southglade Food Park.

“We have based our grades on the needs of businesses, drawing on many years of experience within the industry,” said Fiona Anderson. “Membership packages are available to any food and drink producer or manufacturer of any size, from start-up companies to larger established organisations. We also have a consultant membership grade for those who supply into the food and drink sector.”

Bronze, Silver and Gold membership packages have been introduced, with prices starting at £110 plus vat per annum. Visit www.foodanddrinkforum.co.uk for more detailed information.

The Food and Drink Forum was launched in 1998 as a not-for-profit membership-led organisation to stimulate and support the sustainable growth and development of the food and drink industry in the East Midlands.

It aims to:
• Champion the food and drink sector in the East Midlands.
• Develop strategic influencing partnerships within and outside the East Midlands.
• Act as a centre for information and knowledge on all subjects relating to the food and drink sector in the region.
• Stimulate and facilitate sustainable change within companies of all sizes across the food chain.
• Generate income and secure resources to meet the needs of a high-quality service.
• Promote the food and drink sector to future employees through education and the raising of skills.

For more information about the services offered by The Food and Drink Forum visit www.foodanddrinkforum.co.uk

Issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk