GAME


KEEPING PACE WITH CONSUMER TRENDS


Last year, we saw the launch of The British Game Alliance (BGA) to act as the official marketing board for the UK game industry.


Game, despite being nutritious, sustainable and versatile, not to mention delicious – is frequently overlooked. Grouse, which came into season on the 12th August (Glorious Twelfth), along with pheasant and


The game meat industry has been growing over recent years, thanks in no small part to a number of largely consumer-


focussed campaigns, including Taste of Game, which is


supported by the British


Association for Shooting and Conservation, and Game to Eat, a campaign by the Countryside Alliance. Now, a new initiative seeks to support this growth, with strong focus on the sustainability,


Image courtesy of Leopold Amory


safe food handling and hygiene standards, record keeping and traceability. The BGA’s objective of getting the great British public to consume more British game is underpinned by its quality assurance scheme assured through Acoura to ensure its credibility, to give businesses and consumers confidence in the provenance of the product.


So far, nearly 600 estates


with more than one third of these already audited for compliance with the Standards.


More recently, the BGA launched twelve innovative game products to be sold into a variety of food service businesses around the country. These new commercial products include the likes of Panko Pheasant Goujons, Keepers Pie, Hunters Ham and Pulled Pheasant


CRAFTBUTCHER l SEPTEMBER 2019


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Image courtesy of Leopold Amory


partridge, which will be in season this month, all contain more protein per 100g than chicken, and less fat and cholesterol. Certain varieties of venison - a great lean alternative to beef – along with rabbit and pigeon, are available all year round.


As well as imparting a richness of flavour, the animals’ wild lifestyles also make game a very sustainable product, arguably far more so than most intensively reared meat, with a low carbon footprint and minimal environmental impact. For chefs and caterers, there are both strong and delicate flavours to play with, offering versatility, as well as adding a touch of the wild and old-world glamour to dishes.


provenance and traceability of game.


The BGA’s voluntary assurance scheme, which is open to game shooting estates and processors, sets out a range of standards around environmental management, animal health and welfare,


and 18 game processors have signed up to the scheme,


thigh, which the BGA have developed with leading food industry development chefs to suit modern demands and consumer trends. The BGA are working to bring these new products to market over the next few months through contracts with outlets and distributors.


Visit www.britishgamealliance. co.uk to learn more about the organisation or, to enquire about stocking BGA-assured game, call 0203 727 5204. n


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