25th November 2008

Just nine months after they showcased their products at the inaugural Real Food Festival the Jersey Oyster Company has seen their turnover and orders go ‘through the roof’.

A delighted Steven Luce, company director announced this week that “As a direct result of contacts we made at the 2008 Real Food Festival The Jersey Oyster Company now exports over half a ton of Jersey branded oysters each week to some of London’s best hotels, restaurants and stores

Formed in 1973, the Jersey Oyster Company farms an area of around 26 hectares to produce both Oysters and Mussels. They shared a stand with six other Jersey businesses at the festival, made possible by the Real Food Festival’s unique model of subsidising small producers.  Without this direct funding, they, like many other small producers, would not have been able to be part in the festival.  But, with the orders pouring in as a result of the 2008 Festival, Steven has already confirmed their presence at the 2009 event

”…such was our success that Jersey will again have a stand in 2009 promoting the Island’s excellent produce, and aiming to export even more into the UK.”

This story is unlikely to make the financial pages on the nationals, but the scale of this success for a single producer echoes the Real Food Festival’s key message of the importance of small-scale, local and quality produce. It also demonstrates that whatever the financial climate, The Real Food Festival offers producers a platform to expand and develop their businesses.  The Real Food Festival focuses on buying locally, sustainability, fair & ethical production and healthy food.