The Bristol Food Card – a scheme to incentivise shoppers to support local, independent retailers – has been launched ahead the city’s pioneering Food Connections festival.
The project is a unique collaboration of more than 90 food and drink business from across the city – all offering promotions to card holders during the festival, which starts next Friday. 
It represents the first time such a large number of local business owners have come together to collaborate to bring customers through their doors.
The Bristol Food Card aims to do for local, independent food businesses what loyalty cards such as Tesco’s Clubcard do for supermarkets.
While it is being trialled this year, the long-term aim is to use it as a mechanism for gathering data about how people shop for food in the city.
Consumers will be able to spot which businesses are participating in the initiative by following The Food Trail, which is supported by the Wapping Wharf Harbourside community.
Bristol Food Connections, which is supported by GWR, the BBC and Bristol City Council, aims to connect people to all aspects of their food – from how and where it is grown, to who serves it, how it tastes, makes us feel and the way it brings communities together.
As well as the Food Card initiative, there will be other support for food and drink businesses throughout the festival. A Seed Fund Business Bootcamp takes place next Friday run by a wide range of experts and mentors from the food and drink industry.
It will give attendees the chance to troubleshoot and gain invaluable insights from seasoned professionals and like-minded entrepreneurs, who have first-hand experience of what it takes to create a successful food brand.
On Bank Holiday Monday some of Bristol’s best-known chefs, writers and restaurateurs will discuss what makes a great restaurant. Kate Hawkings (Rocinantes, Bells Diner and Bellitas), Freddy Bird (the Lido), Xanthe Clay (Daily Telegraph) and Nathan Lee (Hyde & Co, Milk Thistle, Pata Negra and The Ox) will share their views and answer questions. It will be chaired by Tim Hayward, a food writer, radio presenter and owner of the iconic Cambridge restaurant Fitzbillies.
Festival manager Aine Morris said: “We believe it’s time for a new kind of food festival. One that supports businesses that are driving Bristol’s exciting food scene forward. We want those brave, excited entrepreneurs with great ideas to be supported by a festival such as this – as they are the future of Bristol’s food scene.”
Stuart Hatton, director at Wapping Wharf developer Umberslade, added: “Our involvement in the Food Trail chimes with our strong community ethos and our focus on creating a thriving independent food and drink destination at Wapping Wharf. Bristol is famous for its eclectic mix of cafes, restaurants, bars and shops and we are thrilled to be adding to this vibrant scene with the new quarter we are creating.”
