200 shops, restaurants, pubs, cafés and caterers have made the Sussex Six pledge to serve more Sussex food and drink produce, with Brighton & Hove and Lewes joining the campaign this summer alongside Horsham, Mid Sussex, Rother and Wealden Districts.
“With support from local authorities across Sussex, we are celebrating our 200th pledge, which comes from Mange Tout in Brighton, a restaurant known for its delicious, good value dishes which include local produce,” said Hilary Knight, co-director of Natural Partnerships CIC, which manages the Sussex Six Campaign.
The latest ten businesses to make the pledge are Lewes Depot in Lewes; Cottesmore Hotel Golf & Country Club in Pease Pottage, Mid Sussex; Rathfinny Estate in Alfriston, Wealden; The Weald Smokery in Flimwell, Rother; Relish Café in Henfield, Horsham District; Mange Tout in Brighton; The View Seaford, Lewes District; M&B Meats in Brighton; The Wine Cellar Brighton; and Massilia Bay Restaurant & Bar in Pevensey.
“Each business has committed to take on at least six more local products, which means 1200 more product lines being sold and served in businesses across Sussex and represents a vast amount of business being kept right here in the circular economy of Sussex,” continued Hilary Knight.
Sussex Six retail and hospitality businesses have pledged to take on at least six new Sussex food and drink products or ingredients in the coming year, to support local producers, reduce food miles and boost the local economy.
All Sussex food and drink businesses which make, serve or sell local produce are invited to list themselves free on the Sussexfoodanddrink.org directory, which includes over 750 producers and places to buy or eat local produce. There is a Sussex-wide directory and district directories for Brighton & Hove, Chichester, Horsham, Lewes, Mid Sussex, Wealden and Rother.
The Sussex Six campaign is run by Natural Partnerships, a community interest company which specialises in local food, drink and farming projects.
There will also be regular business networking and meet the producer/buyer events to put businesses in touch with providers and seasonal campaigns raising awareness of produce available locally over the coming year.
Businesses which make the pledge are automatically listed on the directories, receive a Sussex Six sunshine window sticker and digital marketing pack and be invited to join networking workshops and events.
“We are delighted that so many districts have joined the campaign to get more local produce on the shop shelves and menus in Sussex, where we have such an innovative and delicious range of food and drink produced,” continued Hilary Knight.
Brighton & Hove City Council Leader, Councillor Bella Sankey, said : “I’m excited to launch the Sussex Six campaign in Brighton & Hove and I would encourage Brighton & Hove retail and hospitality businesses to sign the Sussex Six pledge to serve and sell local produce.
“I’m also urging local residents to support our local businesses – we can grow our economy, create more jobs and opportunities and make our lives more sustainable by buying local and supporting our local food sector. We are proud that Brighton & Hove holds a Gold Sustainable Food Places Award, recognising our long-term work to improve the city’s food system.”
Lewes District Council Cabinet Member for Climate, Nature & Food Systems, Cllr Emily O’Brien, said: “We are delighted to support the Sussex Six Campaign in Lewes District. With global uncertainty, our food and drink sector becomes an ever more vital part of our local economy and community. It is more sustainable to buy locally, and we want to support these businesses. It’s good for our local communities and it’s good for the environment.”
Mid Sussex District Council Cabinet Member for Sustainable Economy & Housing, Cllr Ian Gibson, said: “We are proud of the fantastic food and drink made here in Sussex, and we have some of the best right here in our district.
“We want to encourage more businesses to sign the pledge to serve and sell more local produce and urge members of the local community to buy local and support these businesses. It’s good for our local community and it’s good for the environment.”
Horsham District Council Cabinet Member for Enterprise and Property, Cllr Jonnathan Taylor, said: “In the Horsham District, we are proud to be the first authority to work with Natural Partnerships CIC to create the Sussex Six Campaign and launch it in 2023. It is fantastic to now see it rolling out through districts across Sussex.
“Food and drink is a real success story for Horsham District, with an increasing number of high quality growers and producers supplying our restaurants, cafes, hotels and independent shops. It is a win, win for both the local economy and the local environment, and I urge as many businesses as possible to make the Sussex Six pledge.”
Wealden District Council lead councillor for Governance, Waste & Local Economy and deputy leader of the council, Councillor James Partridge, said: “Wealden has a wide range of fantastic food and drink producers and some great shops, restaurants, pubs and cafes. If they all took on just six more local products, they would help each other grow, employ more local people and reduce our impact on the environment.”
Councillor Hazel Timpe, Cabinet Member for Tourism, Rother District Council, said: “The food and drink sector is vitally important in Rother and we are delighted to launch the Sussex Six Campaign here to support our local producers and visitor economy.
“We encourage local hospitality and retail businesses to join the campaign by making the pledge to take on just six more local products over the coming year. The campaign will highlight your efforts, and you’ll be joining a unique and powerful collaboration of Sussex food and drink businesses. We also urge the public to choose Sussex Six businesses when you shop and go out to eat and drink, to support your local community and the environment.”
For more information on the Sussex Six campaign, businesses can visit: Sussexfoodanddrink.org.