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Go to School on
London Program
[Program and times may be subject to slight changes]
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
School starts with Walk-About of Marks and Spencer and Selfridges Food Halls.
Marks and Spencer
www2.marksandspencer.com/thecompany
Marks & Spencer is one of the UK's leading retailers of clothing, foods, home-ware and financial services, serving 15 million customers a week in over 399 UK stores. The Company also trades in 30 countries worldwide, and has a Group annual turnover of about £8 billion.
In the last year, sales of food were £3.5bn, a 2.4% increase on the year. The popularity of M & S's food halls has never been in doubt, as queues at lunchtime will confirm. Marks and Spencer was the first British food retailer to introduce ready meals to their food hall.
While M&S prices are higher than other supermarkets, their quality is extremely high.
Selfridges
www.selfridges.co.uk
Owned by Galen Weston (Loblaws/ Wittington Investments Ltd.) Selfridges has undergone a major transformation over recent years. Oxford Street's most famous store is a shopping experience, and one that's certainly hard to beat in London - or anywhere!
Although not the prettiest of London's food halls, Selfridges is a favourite due to their excellent cheese, fish and deli counters, plus an affordable range of Italian, Indian, Chinese and Japanese food products.
Thursday, September 29, 2005
9:30 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Presentation and Interactive Sessions with Dr. David Hughes & Patrick Davis
Dr. David Hughes is Emeritus Professor of Food Marketing at the Centre for Food Chain Research, Imperial College London, and Visiting Professor at the Royal Agricultural College, U.K. David is a much sought-after speaker at international conferences and seminars on global food industry issues. Learn more about Dr. David Hughes.
Mr. Patrick Davis, is the former Chief Executive of 'Food from Britain', a strategic export marketing agency. Mr. Davis is an expert on new product development, packaging, and matching the product to consumer trends. Learn more about Mr. Patrick Davis.
David and Patrick will provide you with a big picture overview of the UK and London food industry, British consumer trends and export potential into the UK and Europe. An interactive session will follow to allow ample opportunity to question these two leading food experts.
12:00 - 1:30 p.m.
Lunch with Dr. David Hallam - Financial Analyst - Williams de Broe, London (UK)
Dr. David Hallam, Financial Analyst, Williams de Broe, London (UK) a leading UK financial analyst in the area of food & beverages and one of the foremost financial experts on the ready meal market.
Williams de Broe is one of the longest established stock broking firms in the City of London. It has maintained its reputation for independent advice, quality of research and high standards of service for over 130 years.
2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Walk-Abouts of TESCO, Sainsbury's & 'Fresh and Wild'
TESCO
www.tesco.com
TESCO is the UK's largest grocery retailer. They operate 1,982 stores in Great Britain, including newly obtained network T&S Stores. They employ more than 221,000 people worldwide and have annual sales in excess of £37 billion.
The UK's largest supermarket chain offers all the usual food and household product brands as well as an extensive range of private label products. They carry both economy and luxury ranges. Tesco has branched out into smaller convenience style stores that stay open later and carry fewer products at a premium
In addition to food and household products, they offer on-line shopping, communication services, and financial services, among others for more that 750,000 registered customers.
Sainsbury's
www.sainsbury.co.uk
A leading UK food retailer with interests in financial services and communications, Sainsbury's is one of the United Kingdom's largest supermarket chains. They operate more then 700 stores and have annual sales of £18billion.
Sainsbury PLC consists of Sainsbury's Supermarkets, Sainsbury's Local, Bells Stores, Jacksons Stores and JB Beaumont, Sainsbury's to You and Sainsbury's Bank.
In the 1990s, Sainsbury's began forming close value chain relationships with key suppliers of fresh produce, including beef, veal, lamb, pork, potatoes, onions and fresh fruit. Sainsbury's took a proactive role in linking primary food producers with processors and manufacturers.
Lord Sainsbury of Turville is Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Science and Innovation Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Science and Innovation
Responsible for Promoting World Class Science and Innovation
'Fresh & Wild'
'Fresh & Wild' Web site
Fresh & Wild opened their first store in 1998 and have grown to become the UK's largest organic and natural foods retailer. There are now six stores in London and one in Bristol.
Fresh & Wild is committed to stocking delicious food without artificial colourings, hydrogenated fat, flavourings, sweeteners or preservatives.
In addition, included in their natural remedies department is an area devoted to natural skincare and supplements. Customers can also enjoy freshly prepared organic meals and juices in their cafe.
In January 2004 Fresh & Wild were purchased by Whole Foods Market (USA), the world's largest organic and natural retailer.
5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Networking Reception (Location: TBA)
An opportunity to get to know your fellow 'schoolmates' and food guides. There will be some special guests invited to meet you as well.
Friday, September 30, 2005
8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Tour of Food Processing Company - Noon Products Ltd.
Noon Products Ltd.
www.noon.co.uk
Noon Products are a major supplier of ethnic ready meals to Sainsbury's, Safeway, Somerfield and Morrisons in the UK. Their ethos is to combine traditional recipes and methods with the appropriate technology to produce truly authentic dishes, using only pure ingredients to the highest quality and standards. Their chefs are classically trained and are skilled at ensuring the subtle aspects of home cooking are not lost among the technology of large scale production.
Food products from Indian meals and specialist sweets are created by master food technicians in an area that is known locally as 'Little India'. Noon products produces 150,000 ready meals a day and has an annual turnover of £90 million a year.
Chicken tikka masala is probably the most popular ready meal in Britain. Former Foreign Secretary Robin Cook acclaimed chicken tikka masala as modern Britain's favourite dish. Marks & Spencer sells 8 tonnes a week and 10 tonnes are produced a day for supermarkets by Noon Products in Southall. But like all things modern, the dish itself is almost unknown in India!
10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Western International Retail Market
Southall
The Western International Market is the best market in Southall and offers a variety of traders from food, vegetables, clothing, jewellery and much more. The market is a mix of many ethnic cultures and is considered to be the best ethnic market in London . The Western International Market Southall sells to both the wholesale and retail markets.
Construction of a new wholesale horticultural market with offices, food wholesale facilities, loading bays, storage areas, associated buildings, ancillary facilities and surface car parking space is soon to be underway.
12:00 (noon) - 2:00 p.m.
Walk About & Lunch at Waitrose (Canary Warf)
Waitrose
Canada Place, Canada Square
Canary Wharf, London
You will visit Waitrose at Canary Wharf for a walk about and lunch. London's Docklands is famous for its breathtaking architecture (developed by O&Y), but the quality of its bars, restaurants and food stores are every bit as impressive.
Waitrose is a leading UK food retailer but is considerably smaller than many of the larger retailers you will be visiting in London. This speciality retailer has been around since 1904 and has about 165 outlets throughout England and Wales.
Waitrose places priority on provenance and food traceability. Their buyers spend much of their time with the farmers, growers and suppliers, building relationships. Wherever possible Waitrose buy British and are sourcing local produce from small growers and suppliers close to individual Waitrose stores. Waitrose holds a Royal Warrant with Her Majesty The Queen.
3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Wrap-Up Session with David Hughes
This will be your opportunity to sound off and tell us what you have learned that you can take home with you, what new opportunities you have identified and what products from back home you think could do well in the world's most upscale food market. You will report back as teams and your comments, and observations will be critiqued by the professor. So you better have done your homework!
Saturday, October 1, 2005
10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Walk About Harrods Food Hall
Harrods
www.harrods.com
When most people think of shopping in London they first think of Harrods. Without doubt, it's a great (albeit pricey) place to shop, which despite losing its Royal Warrants, retains an international reputation for quality.
Spread over seven floors, highlights include the Egyptian Room plus marvellous food halls that are simply stunning. While the vast majority of those shopping in Harrods' Food Hall purchase only souvenir teas, the store still boasts an excellent range of gourmet items as well as highly impressive meat and fish counters. By far, the most high end food hall in London, if not the world.
The store operates a dress code of sorts. A failure to observe it may mean you're politely escorted off the premises by one of the Harrods' security officers.
Sunday, October 2, 2005
9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
A Visit To A Sunday London Farmers Market
Islington Farmers Market
Essex Road, Islington London
"This market (Islington) is good news for everyone... It should inspire consumer confidence in food production. But much more than this, it will foster greater understanding between the town and the country by helping to re-connect people to the land ..." HRH The Prince of Wales on the opening of the Islington Farmers' Market, June 1999
All the produce is grown, reared, raised, baked, caught, or produced by the seller. There is no middleman. The farms must be within 100 miles of London. Many are much closer.
All farmers' markets have been certified by the National Association of Farmers' Markets so that customers can have complete confidence in the produce sold, and know that there are real farmers at the market, or their employees. Consumers can ask the farmer how produce was grown and how to cook it. Farmers are happy to respond.
Islington was London's first farmers' market, opened by the minister for agriculture in June 1999. It operates every Sunday morning, 10 until 2:00 p.m. Some of the offerings you will find at Islington Farmers Market:
Organic beef, lamb and pork
Organic poultry, eggs and watercress
Vegetables, herbs, goat's cheese, milk
Hand made pork pies, home cooked ham on the bone
Home made ready meals
Organic bread and cakes
Organic buffalo cheeses and meat
Local honey, candles and honey based cosmetics
Sunday, October 2 at 12:00 Noon - School Ends!
Go to School on
London Package
School starts on Wednesday, September 28 and ends on Sunday, October 2, 2005.
What the package includes:
Four nights hotel including continental breakfast, briefings and consultations,
transportation for tour activities, walk-abouts, CD-ROM of presentations &
photos plus an invitation to all Smart Food activities.
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COST:
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USA $2900
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EURO 2400
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Canada $3500
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(plus GST if applicable)
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We take Visa and MasterCard!
Limited space available so book now!
• A briefing on UK consumer food trends and an overview of London's food scene.
• Walk-abouts of leading UK supermarket retailers - Waitrose, Sainsbury's
and Tesco.
• Walk-about of 'Fresh and Wild', a leading organic UK food retailer
recently purchased by Whole Foods (USA).
• Special tours to Selfridges and Marks & Spencer Food Halls
• Tour an ethnic food market and an early morning farmer's market.
• A work-shop session with food tour expert guides to explore, share and
compare your findings and ideas.
• A CD-ROM of presentations and photos from walk-about tours
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