The Guild of Fine Food is delighted to announce the launch of the Members’ Town Hall, an innovative initiative aimed at strengthening representation and encouraging active participation within the independent food and drink trade. This exciting new platform invites members to join a rotating committee and online meetings that will serve as a voice for the diverse range of producers, retailers, and distributors within the Guild.
The Members’ Town Hall aims to foster a collaborative environment where Guild members and committee representatives can exchange ideas, lobby government, and generate plans to nurture and improve those who make, and those who sell, quality food & drink. By assembling a dedicated and representative committee that periodically rotates, each serving for two years, the Guild will ensure fresh perspectives and diverse viewpoints from its membership are represented and heard.
To encourage a broad, cross-industry representation on the committee, the Guild are inviting applications from across its membership to ensure that retailers, wholesalers, and producers of all sizes, activity, location and part of the UK can have their say. This is an exceptional opportunity for individuals invested in the industry to actively contribute to shaping the Guild’s future endeavours, advocate for the needs and interests of the membership and help shape independent retail.
In addition, members of the Guild of Fine Food, whether on the committee or not, will be welcome to join online meetings to contribute to topics that are relevant and of interest to them.
Commenting on the new Members’ Town Hall, John Farrand, managing director at the Guild of Fine Food, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “We are excited to be introducing this initiative that has ‘having your say’ at its core. It will empower our members and champion an inclusive community. This should provide an avenue for collaborative representation, ensuring that the voices and concerns of our diverse membership are heard at the highest levels. This not only helps represent, nurture, and develop the Guild’s membership but the sector as a whole.”
In 1994, the Guild of Fine Food established Great Taste, the world’s largest, longest standing and most respected food accreditation scheme for artisan and speciality food and drink producers.
As well as Great Taste, the Guild of Fine Food publish the industry-leading magazine, Fine Food Digest, and organise the global phenomenon, that is the World Cheese Awards. Plus, further events including award ceremonies and Great Taste Markets, training sessions and member initiatives throughout the year.
Members interested in participating in the committee are encouraged to submit their applications via the Guild. The Guild of Fine Food welcomes applicants from all backgrounds and areas of expertise within the industry.
For more information about the Members’ Town Hall initiative and the application process, visit the Guild of Fine Food’s website or contact support@gff.co.uk.
Join the Guild of Fine Food’s Members’ Town Hall and help shape the future of the industry by representing the interests and aspirations of the membership.
Photo credits: Guild of Fine Food – Richard Faulkes, Andrew Conway, Phil Taylor
