UKH highlights hospitality’s role in National Food Strategy

UKHospitality has highlighted the areas in which the hospitality sector could help achieve the Government’s development of a National Food Strategy, if it has support, in its submission to Defra.

These include a positive regulatory regime; investment in skills and training to promote careers in hospitality; food quality and sustainability; and innovation and productivity

However, it has cautioned that work already done by the hospitality sector is capitalised on and not hindered by the introduction of unnecessary barriers to growth such as regulatory burdens or extra costs.

Kate Nicholls, chief executive, UKHospitality, said: “A positive and effective National Food Strategy is in everyone’s best interests. For policy-makers looking to promote healthier attitudes towards food, consumers trying to do the same for themselves and their families, and the businesses that provide it.

“The hospitality sector has an important part to play but we can only achieve our full potential if we have the right support from the Government. We share the Government’s aims of ensuring that people are eating good quality, healthy food and that the food and hospitality industries are thriving and innovative.

Nicholls said that a positive National Food Strategy would touch upon many aspects of regulation and business from sustainability and quality to skills and training. “We need an all-inclusive approach that supports businesses every step of the way from farm to fork and supports hospitality businesses to deliver that vision, and we look forward to working with all stakeholders to ensure the new Strategy makes this happen,” she added.