Fair & Organic training for new communities in London
The cream of Camden's food business entrepreneurs!
Announcing F&O's New Community Food Businesses of the Year 2009
The winner of Centa's Fair & organic competition is Casa da Sogra restaurant, based at 4 Ferdinand Street, Camden Town London NW1 8ER. Brothers Fabio and Fernando Costa have taken Brazilian cuisine to another level and have increased the sales up to 70% since starting trading in 2008. Casa da Sogra has a strong client base in the area surrounding Camden, and runs regular events to promote Brazilian food and culture. The reason for entering the competition was to promote the 'fair and organic principle' practiced within their restaurant. Judges were in agreement that this business engaged the community with special entrepreneurial flair.
The winning prize includes £500 cash; 6 monthly free business advice sessions (worth £2,500); promotion in Centa’s e-newsletter, web site and press releases, continued advice to help you secure catering contracts and business leads.
• Promotion of culture
• Community engagement
• Originality and innovation
• Determination overcoming challenges to start a business.
The local runners up were:
- Amber Grill
- Canecao (Liquid Meal)
- Natural Centre
F&O announces new partner
From November 2009 Training Link, is a community learning centre in Somers Town in the London Borough of Camden, close to the British Library. The agency's small team of staff and volunteers at Training Link will be providing ESOL training and IT Training courses. Training Link has a lot of experience in these two sectors and the project welcomes their valuable experience into the partnership.
Training Link is based at 54-56 Phoenix Road London NW1 1ES.
About the Fair & Organic project
The Fair & Organic project supports and develops members in the Latin America community in London to get involved in the food sector, starting a business and obtaining food related skills. The Fair & Organic project provides education, training and advice on a range of food-related issues and meets the increasing demand for organic and fair trade food in the UK. Centa has teamed up with four partner agencies, to provide:
• Business training and one-to-one business advice and support.
• Information on organic and fair trade products and services.
• Specialist workshops (covering food hygiene, food laws and the food business).
• Sector-focused ESOL, ‘Skills for Life’ and accredited food hygiene training.
What are people saying saying about the project?
- "A great introduction to starting up a food business."
- "Has helped me to understand better the principle of fair trade."
- "The food hygiene and food safety training was first class."
- "Attending the how to start up a restaurant seminar was very enlightening."
One-to-one advice and training sessions will run throughout the year at the offices of Centa in Kings Cross. Advice will be available on all aspects of starting and running a new business or becoming self-employed including business planning, market research, raising and managing finance, and marketing.
The other partners involved are: Innovative Enterprise Action (IEA), Portobello Business Centre, Training Links and GLE OneLondon. Organic food and Fair Trade are both very topical subjects in the media, through this project and our experience with different BAME groups it is the aim of our involvement to make a difference in engaging within the food industry.
For more information, please call or email:
Support by the London Development Agency