early spring update and good wishes to AFN members and customers

Whilst  there  may still  be  snow   on the ground  with  Snow  drops   blooming ,    AFN  members  are  working hard   to build  new   links , introduce  innovations and  create  good customer   experiences

 Firstly , a very warm welcome to both  the  Home  Cook School  and  The CooShed  at South  Corton farm  as our newest  members..

(see the  Members  &  Gallery  pages   for details  , images  and links..)

Mossgeil continues   to build   their  excellent  non homogenised   milk supply   arrangements and   Networks..

West  Coast   Foods   have introduced   some  very smart  display   technology  in their  premises .

 Grants  of Prestwick  are  mindful of  the  current  date  and  Valentine's  themes  in their retail  areas.. with  a great display 

 Auchengree   have  their first steak  night  of the year  this  week...  do get across to  enjoy the  experience

 Bhaile   artisan   bakery    continue to innovate  with    bakery master   classes  and  pop up art shows

 The Ayrshire  farmers'   market  cooperative  are fully back  into the swing  of their  regular farmers markets, working round the weather!

 The   dates  of the excellent  Ballantrae  Food festival have been   confirmed   as the  9th  /10th of June

 The full  2018 schedule   of the   Dumfries  House   Food    Fairs  has just been confirmed by Rhone  Cottage..

Corrie   Mains   have  been recognised   for their  long   standing   &  ongoing  work  supplying   their  award  winning   free range  eggs to the  educational  /schools sector

 For  all those of our members /associates   building    business  opportunities and  memorable  customer  experiences  around  February    14th   thanks ...Enjoy   and good luck!

Ayrshire  Hampers   and  others  are at the Ayrshire  Food and  Craft event   on the 25th Feb in Fenwick

 NB To  confirm  also  we are now  " amplifying "  Facebook events   of   members   , so please notify us ..
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 Also   to   advise   everyone  the Ayrshire  Food Network  will be  present  at  the Scotland   Food  and Drink  regional food group event    next week ...Open feedback  will be provided .

  wishing  everyone   successful    early   Spring  trading

The Kitchen Cafe

Image from www.bbc.co.uk

Listen Now

This      recording   took   place  near  Largs    and was published    last thursday  20th   and repeated   sunday   24th  july .

it gave  us  a  good opportunity to  to explain the back ground ,linkages ,  and current activity  of the  Ayrshire Food Network ....  produce   from 8 producers/providers  was featured   cooked   and used on the show  ... it really was  Ayrshire on  a plate

thanks  everyone for their   support

enjoy

The stage is set for the 3rd Ballantrae Food Festival sunday11th june .. come on down

 After   12 months of planning . we are almost there..

60  " tables "of  excellent  regional  Food  and  Drink, plus  acknowledged chefs,   home cooking experts,   knowledgeable  local school  children, and  foraging experts come together  in  a unique blend  of  Event  Scotland  related  History  and Culinary Heritage, authentic local food provision  and culinary tourism. within the natural setting   of the UNESCO designated  Biosphere  and against  the  background of Slow Food  .. not to be missed!

Set in 3 marquees on the foreshore by  Ballantrae harbour   it is  a distinct  and authentic  event    made  more  enjoyable by the  provision of  exciting street food & drink, and  live   music.

the main  marquees are fully  floored  and  hence  provide ease of access and  mobility

see  www.ballantraefoodfest.com  for  the  very latest news  and social  media   information, including  details of  free bus services,.. the entry cost  has been set at £2  to  ensure  the  broadest inclusivity ...(accompanied  children under  16  are  free - there is dedicated   entertainment  for them also )

we  thank all the Sponsors ,supporters  and community volunteers   plus  the  exciting array of producers   and standholders who   together  have made this year' event possible.

Timing from 11.00-17.00

see you  there hopefully ..

 please advise all friends ,colleagues, customers and clients  that this wonderful event  is about to take place

thanks  everyone   for their  collaborative efforts

February brings an ongoing feast of opportunities for Ayrshire Food and drink producers

We are well into  2017  and  innovative  collaborations   continue to happen

 January  22-24th  saw  our two newest  members  Bhaile  Craft  bakery,  and    All  that's Delicious  at the  #Speciality    Food  Show ..In addition to winning  category awards , there  was  very significant    commercial   interest  in their  excellent product ranges .

Feb 8th  provided  the  unique  opportunity    for Ayrshire   & Arran  producers to take their produce  to an Ayrshire Larder  event   at the  Palace  of Westminster in  London.. as part of a #Loveayrshire  joint  event .. the setting  was    historic  and the  reception given to the produce   was   most encouraging ..We thank  our local MPs  for sponsoring the event  . and the 3 councils  for making it possible .

Particular thanks  goes to  Neil McAleese for organising  and    mastering the   formidable  logistical  challenge, and to the 3   ambassadors from @Ayrshirecollege who transformed  excellent  ingredients  into  exciting  canapes.  10  AFN  members  were present  or were  represented

@Slowfooduk   was  there   plus #TheCooksCompanyofLondon  .. a City of London livery company  which  has  been established  for   600  years plus ... between them they know a lot about food and drink , and recognise  quality when they experience it ... they  really enjoyed  meeting  the personalities   behind the produce !!

 Planning  is now going ahead    for     the  new monthly    street   market  in Troon  launching   in March ,  and a reorganised  monthly   Saturday  farmers market  at  Burns   Birthplace museum at Alloway starting in  April  In addition  there will   be a new weekly   food and craft market in Girvan launching on Good  Friday

These  will compliment  the  monthly  AFM   Sunday market at  Ayr Central   and the long  established  monthly    markets in  Ayr  high street  and Kilmarnock

Full details  and links can be found  in the Ayrshire Larder   Food and drinks event calender  embedded  in the members section of the Ayrshire Food Network web site

 Further  along the horizon   the Dumfries  House Food fair  will restart in April    along with the NTS Culzean  market  Activities

For  many  their sights  are already  set on the 3rd  Ballantrae   food and drink festival  scheduled for Sunday  11th June .. .. As last  year  ,  it is anticipated   that  more than 20  members will be involved

As  for the   two  major   international   Golf events  being held  at Dundonald   Links  in July  the   hospitality   opportunities are   perhaps  boundless

Meanwhile  we  should try  no doubt to  keep our feet on the ground and   focused on   satisfying our customer needs  and requirements

 good luck      and please remember to share  your good news stories

Golden October brings more AFN success and new members

 Congratulations  to the Ballantrae Food Festival  for winning  the ACCI   food and drink award .. for 2016.  23 AFN  members were involved  back in  June .. so areal group effort  led by Susan Crosthwaite     thanks    also  to .@slowfoodwestscot  for their support and engagement

Also to  Glenapp  Castle for winning  the ACCI  Customer service award..

Thanks and well  done  to other   members who were shortlisted  for  the awards .

October   has seen  Little Turnberry   Farm shop , and  Ayrshire  Hampers   come into  the   Network  ..  a very warm welcome

#West   Mossgeil   is continuing to build   a  very strong  business to business    customer base  both in  Ayrshire  and Glasgow     . certainly  a  real  transformative  story  

7  AFN members  are  contributing to the ongoing development  of the  Ayrshire  strategic  tourism  policy  and programmes  .. thanks for your time  and effort

The Ayrshire   Farmer'   Market cooperative  have initiated   successfully   a new   Sunday   farmers'  market   at Ayr  Central   Shopping   Mall .. another welcome addition  

Several members   are  involved  also  in the learning  journey to Iceland  starting this weekend  looking  at  hospitality  management  performance ; systems; product/ service innovation  and use of social media ..  watch out   for live   video broadcasts ,  Tweets  , Facebook  postings , Instagram images  hopefully .... case  studies   are being  developed   for everyone interested to share

thanks  everyone   for their   support .. good  luck with upcoming  trading period.

ps  please send to the editor   your  interesting   updates and  good  news stories

18 very busy days for AFN members in Ayrshire and beyond during #scotfoodfort

 we   knew it was going to busy.

it   certainly  has  been  and  continues to be

there  have been 5  farmers  markets including  the  new one at #AyrCentral , and @RobertBurns NTS   ;the  Scottish  Airshow ;#letseatGlasgow; the Newmilns food  festival ;  Culzean. food and craft event ;Dumfries   House  food  market; #Ayr250  being  the  250th anniversary  of Corney  and Barrow Whighams  in Ayr  ; judging   for the ACCI  business  awards   covering  several   categories  including  Food ,Tourism, and Customer  Service ;the 2016  Food Awards ; #The Global Market in #Kilmarnock;  the  Slow  Food  Ark of Taste   nominations, and   launch of the  Slow Food  Scottish Chefs' Alliance ..

with    no resting  on our laurels  there are   new collaborations,  product /service developments, distribution  hubs  , deliveries   and  study visits   being planned

please  share  your good news  stories  via this blog  

good   luck    for the  next trading  periods

Ayrshire Food Network members welcome warmly visitors to the 145th Open

The  next 4 days from the 14th-17th July  will see  unprecedented focus  on the local food & drink offerings from  Ayrshire  and Arran  together with our overall hospitality.

Visit Scotland, Ayrshire  & Arran Tourism   together  with  Scotland Food and Drink   are  kindly providing  opportunities  for small scale producers to introduce  their produce  to  the thousands of visitors expected.

So the  very best of luck to  AD  Rattray ,Aye Love Real Food , Dunlop  Cheese,Everything Chilli,Fencebay , Pieronis ,Woody's, Roundsquare, Ayr  Brewing  Co , Barwheys   and others who are taking  up the invitation

Local produce  is also  featuring   strongly   in the hospitality   offerings  at the 145th Open event itself , as well as the  many  venues  accommodating   guests , corporate  patrons , and international visitors

We hope  our guests  enjoy  the  excellent food and drink offerings , as well as the world class golf

With  circa 170,000 visitors expected  with perhaps  60%  + from outwith   Scotland, and 25%  travelling here  from international  destinations ......this  is   certainly   an unprecedented  opportunity

For more  details  of  AFN  please visit  www.ayrshirefoodnetwork.co.uk  ..

thanks