New Forest Marque
Loosehanger Cheeses & the New Forest Marque
Loosehanger Cheeses & The New Forest Marque
We have been members of the New Forest Marque since 2008. We were fortunate enough to be judged New Forest Marque Producer of the Year at that years Hampshire Life Food & Drink Awards.
For a small business like ours it's a great advantage to have a larger organisation focused on looking for opportunities that members can service jointly where individuals wouldn't get a look in. It also provides a trusted, audited, seal of approval to our customers on the quality of our produce before they have even met us.
Our customers in the New Forest are the core of our business and the New Forest Marque provides a window on the opportunities available. As with all small businesses, delivering to customers on a regular and cost-effective basis requires us to concentrate on a small geographic area. we are fortunate that there are many great eating places within the New Forest.
The, Marque-initiated, New Forest Pride Partnership with Fullers Brewery has been a huge success for us allowing us to grow our business and expand our sales into the Fullers estate in the rest of Hampshire from Stockbridge to Alton, Wickham and Old Portsmouth.
Without the Marque we would have had great difficulty getting our foot in the door with a large organisation like Fullers, with central buying contracts. Starting small within 5 or 6 pubs has led to a building of trust that we can supply on quality, quantity and service.
The Marque® - a sign of quality.
A product is only licensed to use the Marque® if:
- it contains at least 25 per cent New Forest produce
- it has met stringent standards according to its particular speciality (for example, meat producers must show that high standards of welfare and good husbandry have been applied at all times).
Managed by the New Forest National Park Authority and New Forest District Council the award scheme was created to:
- give businesses a distinctive 'New Forest' banner under which to sell their goods and services
- help customers identify quality New Forest produce
- encourage people to 'buy local ' and reduce the environmental impact of transporting food long distances
- help sustain the New Forest's local economy by supporting local businesses and employment.
For more information on the New Forest Marque® click here to go to the New Forest Produce Ltd Website
