Retail giant Aldi has been named as the headline sponsor of Bolton Food and Drink Festival 2015.
The annual event will see celebrity chefs delivering free cookery demonstrations in the town centre, amid a backdrop of artisan food stalls and free street entertainment
The supermarket, which is building a new regional headquarters and distribution centre in Logistics North in Bolton, will provide funding towards the cost of staging the festival, which has established itself as one of the best in the UK.
The four day foodie spectacular, organised by Bolton Council, is now in its tenth year and will take place from Friday 28 August to Monday 31 August.
The annual event will see celebrity chefs delivering free cookery demonstrations in the town centre, amid a backdrop of artisan food stalls and free street entertainment.
Bolton Food & Drink Festival 2014Last year, more than 150,000 people flocked to Bolton for the festival, an 18 per cent increase compared to 130,000 in 2013.
The German retailer, which recently leapfrogged Waitrose to become Britain's sixth largest supermarket chain, said their support was the perfect way to cement the investment and growth they are making in Bolton and the region.
Aldi Regional Marketing Director, Ruth Doyle, said: “The Bolton Food and Drink Festival is a celebration of quality local produce and suppliers, and we are pleased to have the opportunity to support the event, particularly as it coincides with Aldi's 25th anniversary in the UK. The council has some exciting things planned for the festival, and we are looking forward to seeing the quality and variety of food and drink that Bolton has to offer.
“Aldi's planned expansion in the coming years, which includes a new regional distribution and logistics centre, will support the local area and our upcoming and existing stores will create significant job opportunities for the people of Bolton. We hope our presence at the festival will establish Aldi further within the local community.”
Leader of Bolton Council, Cllr Cliff Moriss, added: “We're delighted to have Aldi join us in hosting our festival. It's the first time we've had a headline sponsor and it's the first time they've sponsored a food and drink festival so this is a great show of confidence in Bolton.
“Aldi is a supermarket which has really captured the imagination of the British public, and their support is a huge boost. They champion fresh British produce, local suppliers and they are a great fit with our festival.
“We are thankful for the support of all of our sponsors and partners who all help to make the event a success.
“The festival is much-loved and looked forward to by many and this year is extra special because it's the tenth anniversary. Our festival team is working hard to pull out all the stops to make it a year to remember and we will be announcing our celebrity chef line-up very soon.”
Greenhalgh's, Market Place Shopping Centre and Stateside Foods are also sponsoring the festival.
Head of Retail and Marketing Operations at Greenhalgh's, Sandra Ogden, said: “Greenhalgh's is a long-established Bolton family company and we have always taken part in the festival in one form or another. This year, we have decided to sponsor the event to reinforce our links with both the local council and the local community; we are positive from past success that the event will be an outstanding success.”
Bolton Food & Drink Festival 2014Market Place Shopping Centre manager, Nikki Wilson-Cook, added: “We are really excited to be supporting the increasingly popular Bolton Food and Drink Festival this year. Market Place has a strong historical affinity with the trading of food and drink and serving the Bolton community. This is something that is being revived with the exciting plans for the future of the shopping centre as a new dining and leisure hub for the people of Bolton in addition to its shopping offering.”
Managing Director of Stateside Foods, Jon Lucas, said: “As a large local employer, Stateside Foods are delighted to be working alongside Bolton Council for the third year running, helping to promote all that is great about both food and Bolton itself.
“The excellence and variety of food that the festival promotes mirrors our values as a world-class chilled pizza manufacturer and we look forward to celebrating this with the people of Bolton, particularly during this anniversary year.”
Partners this year are Bolton Market, Impression Ltd, Kro Bar, Marriott, Octagon Theatre and Slattery's.
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