Great British Food Fortnight has kicked off this week, and local businesses are urging people to celebrate Sussex produce during the next two weeks by visiting Sussex Six businesses [26 September – 11 October 2026].
“Over 200 Sussex Six shops, restaurants, pubs, cafés and caterers have made a commitment to serve and sell more local Sussex produce, and you can find the ones nearest to you on our map and website,” said Paula Seager, co-director of Natural Partnerships CIC.
“We are blessed with a superb range of fantastic producers in Sussex, from the farmers growing glorious Sussex meats, vegetables and fruits to unique and special small batch manufactured goods, wonderful wines, beers, spirits and soft drinks, cheeses, baked goods and so much more, we have it all here in Sussex and urge you to support your local producers.”
An online Sussex-wide directory includes over 750 Sussex food and drink producers and the places that serve and sell their products, with local directories for Brighton & Hove, Chichester, Horsham, Lewes, Mid Sussex, Wealden and Rother, and a map which makes it easy to find businesses at Sussexfoodanddrink.org
The Sussex Six campaign is run by Natural Partnerships, a community interest company which specialises in local food, drink and farming projects.
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