PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITY


GET BEHIND NATIONAL PICNIC WEEK 19­27 JUNE


National Picnic Week has been running for over a decade and this year it could be bigger than ever.


Picnicking has long been one of the most enjoyable British summertime traditions, mentioned in everything from Mrs Beeton’s Cookbooks to Enid Blyton’s stories. Now it’s being taken to a whole new level. The lockdowns and closure of hospitality mean people have learned to make their own entertainment. This, combined with the revival of walking as a pastime means that suddenly the picnic is very ‘in’. Hospitality will hopefully remain open this summer, but regardless picnicking looks set to stay.


HOW CAN BUTCHERS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF NATIONAL PICNIC WEEK? Get Social! Last year foodie bloggers filled their Instagram feeds with appetising picnic photography. Why not take a leaf out of their book and in the run up to National Picnic Week take a variety of photos of your cooked specialities and


share them widely. Don’t forget to use the hashtag #NationalPicnicWeek


Find out the best local picnic spots Invite your customers to share their favourite picnic spots and have a leader board in your shop with the most popular. This would also work brilliantly as a social media poll


Put together a Picnic Box Why not offer a ready- made picnic to your customers including a range of your most popular products? Themed takeaway picnic boxes are proving popular. How about ‘The Butchers Picnic’, ‘The English Picnic’ or ‘Dad’s Picnic’ to coincide with Father’s Day. Check out companies like piquefood.co.uk, chrissys- kitchen.com and Colette.co.uk for ideas on product selection and packaging.


Create a picnic window or in-store display Harness the power of suggestion by creating a mouth-watering display in the shop


Do something charitable and news-worthy To celebrate the start of National Picnic Week and generate local media coverage consider


giving away a small number of picnic kits to local families or NHS staff. This could even be tied into a quiz about your shop.


PICNIC FACTS AND FIGURES A study of 2,000 adults by Warburtons in 2020 revealed that 65% of respondents had enjoyed a socially distanced picnic with people outside their household during the early summer lockdown period


Popular picnic foods include items first discovered on holidays, such as hummus and felafel, but over 40% of those surveyed by Warburtons said they still ‘prefer’ traditional items such as cold meats and Scotch Eggs


Sandwiches have stood the test of time, with more than half the nation (58%) believing they will always be a picnic staple


Top 10 savoury items to take on a picnic:


1. Crisps 2. Sandwiches 3. Sausages rolls 4. Cherry tomatoes 5. Rolls/baps 6. Pork pies 7. Scotch eggs 8. Slices of cheese e.g. cheddar, halloumi 9. Cocktail sausages 10. Hard boiled eggs


LOOK LOCAL FOR TAKEAWAY PICNIC OPPORTUNITIES


Whilst National Picnic Week provides a great platform to promote deli products, don’t forget the local outdoor events happening throughout the summer that could provide other promotional opportunities. Check out whether any Pub in the Park or outdoor cinema or comedy nights are planned for your area. Events such as these have grown in popularity over the last few years and present an ideal opportunity to offer takeaway picnic boxes or deli boards.


For more information or to share your plans for National Picnic Week visit www.nationalpicnicweek.co.uk or join in the conversation on twitter @picnicweek


22 | CRAFT BUTCHER MAY/JUNE 2021


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