Examination of Witnesses (Questions 600
- 602)
WEDNESDAY 2 MAY 2001
MR PAUL
ALLEN AND
MR JOEY
HUGHES
600. Do you think that in the United Kingdom
we do not make enough products that have a strong local identity.
In France there is a long tradition of products which are branded
with a strong local identity and the package then sustains that.
(Mr Allen) Yes.
601. In the United Kingdom when you buy your
cheese you get the same, but the bit that says that it is Swaledale,
Wensleydale or Stilton, there is nothing to bolster the identity,
to create a small myth around it, is that fair?
(Mr Hughes) Yes, I think that is very fair, they do
not do enough to promote local goods, particularly in the way
you are describing.
(Mr Allen) If you buy Wensleydale it may be produced
in Scotland. There are no systems for accrediting locality.
602. Thank you very much, indeed, for coming,
it is very good to have a ventilation of your views for this inquiry.
We have been trying to explore a little bit where we go and look
at the conventional/unconventional, the thinkable/unthinkable.
We will tell you where we put you at the end.
(Mr Allen) We would be very happy to share our skills
with you in the future.
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