Taste Lancashire conference to return in March

The conference is designed to celebrate the county's food and drink economy, worth more than £1bn annually, and bring together producers, retailers, buyers, chefs, hoteliers, food and drink entrepreneurs and exporters and key influencers.

The announcement follows an inaugural Taste Lancashire conference where keynote speaker Jay Rayner was joined by leading food and drink agencies, professionals and authoritative voices on this rapidly growing sector.

"We’re a county with four Michelin stars, multi award-winning gastropubs, artisan food and drink producers and retailers who champion Lancashire on a regional, national and international stage. We also have great potential to help shift perceptions of England’s food and drink offer, which still lag behind the reality.

Food and drink is now worth more than £1.04 billion and is the largest area of growth in Lancashire’s visitor economy. The sector also supports thousands of food and drink related jobs in Lancashire. Host sponsor Holmes Mill, the venue for Taste Lancashire 2019, is the £10m development by Lancashire-based hospitality group James’ Places that has contributed to a boost in the county’s food and drink scene and its economy.