Magnet (IOM) Ltd is to be the gold sponsor of the 2016 Isle of Man Food & Drink Festival.
The festival takes place in the Villa Marina Gardens on 17 and 18 September.
Magnet (IOM) Ltd’s support includes the supply of a kitchen to host cookery sessions by celebrity Gareth Wyn Jones and the Isle of Man Chef of the Year and Student Chef of the year competitions.
Steve Farrell, Director at Magnet (IOM) Ltd, said: ‘Magnet is delighted to be involved with the festival, the Island’s premier celebration of local food and drink. We see this as an event which unites all those who are interested in, and are committed to, the value and heritage of local produce, whether they be consumers, producers or retailers. As a company with over 40 years’ trading on the Island, we believe in the importance of this and are proud to sponsor this event.’
The festival will be run in association with Manx Radio, which will broadcast live from the event, promoting its ‘local focus’ campaign, and will run a competition for tickets.
Emma Dickenson, Commercial Media Executive, said: ‘We are delighted that the festival planning committee has chosen Manx Radio as its partner and we look forward to helping to make this event a huge success.’
Richard Ronan MHK, Minister for Environment, Food and Agriculture, said: ‘’The development of a distinctive and sustainable local food and drink sector is a key aim of Vision 2020, the Government’s strategy for economic success.
‘The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA) is delivering this via Food Matters – its strategy to grow the value of the food and drink industry by £50 million over the next decade.
‘The festival is our main annual showcase for the ever-increasing array of high quality Isle of Man food and drink reared, grown and produced here.
‘The event goes from strength to strength and last year attracted more than 7,000 visitors. It won the award for Public Sector Achievement of the Year in Isle of Man Newspapers’ Awards for Excellence.
‘I am pleased we have the support of Magnet (IOM) Ltd and Manx Radio for the festival. I hope that other companies will join us in supporting the festival and being associated with the local food and drink sector. It plays an important part in our economy and we have every reason to celebrate its quality and diversity.’
To find out more about sponsorship packages available, contact Audrey Fowler, Marketing Manager, DEFA, on 685856 or Audrey.fowler@gov.im
For more about the festival, visit www.gov.im/food
