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Packed festival equals attendance record

Friday, 25 September 2015

The 2015 Isle of Man Food & Drink Festival equalled the attendance record set by the inaugural event, with 7,000 visiting the two-day celebration of local produce and cooking.

The first festival in 2009 – where the Hairy Bikers were a big draw – also attracted 7,000. Since then, the event has seen crowds of between 4,000 and 5,500. 

Visitors to this year’s event, held in the Villa Marina Gardens and supported by Shoprite, had a huge choice of stands to enjoy, including 14 first-time exhibitors, plenty of opportunities to sample local food and drink, plus entertainment.

There was a high standard among the 55 exhibitors, making the job of choosing the best stand difficult for Richard Ronan MHK, Minister for Environment Food and Agriculture, and top international chef Colin Clague, the guest of honour at this year’s event. They awarded the accolade to Berries Luxury Pudding Makers and Confectioners.

Visitor feedback so far has highlighted that the festival is a great day out and praised the wide variety of local produce on sale, the opportunity to meet producers and the relaxed atmosphere.

Feedback can still be added by visiting www.gov.im/food

The Minister said:

‘As we seek to grow the value of the food and drink sector by £50 million over the next decade, the festival is an excellent stage from which to promote the fantastic range and wonderful high quality of locally produced food and drink.

‘I’m delighted so many people took the opportunity to attend and pleased to hear business was booming for exhibitors – so much so that some sold out.

‘We have an incredibly diverse range of producers in the Island, supported by innovative suppliers, and it is important that we, as a community, appreciate and support this hard work

‘We will listen to all the feedback from festival-goers and incorporate even more good ideas into next year’s event.’ 

IOM Food and Drink 2015

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