The ‘Meet the Local Producer’ event welcomed suppliers from across Sussex, Surrey and Kent.

London Gatwick recently connected 35 emerging and established local food, drink and homeware producers with airport retailers, restaurants and hotels, to help local businesses expand their operations and connect with new buyers.

The ‘Meet the Local Producer’ event welcomed suppliers from across Sussex, Surrey and Kent. Showcasing products such as award-winning sparkling wines, small-batch craft beers, artisan chocolates and homewares, the initiative highlighted the region’s diverse and high-quality produce.

Airport partners including Avolta, Gail’s Bakery and Lagardère met with local businesses, including Horsham Gingerbread, Jam Packed Preserves and Squerryes Winery. Representatives from SALSA, the food and drink safety certification scheme, were on hand to offer guidance to producers looking to scale up and meet the requirements of larger buyers.

London Gatwick is uniquely positioned to champion local enterprise, playing a central role in strengthening the Gatwick Region Airport Economic Zone (AEZ). The AEZ was established to harness the collective potential of the region, by leveraging the strategic influence of the airport.

The ‘Meet the Local Producer’ event builds on London Gatwick’s ongoing commitment to champion local and regional produce, as part of its sustainability strategy, Decade of Change.

London Gatwick also supports the Sussex Six campaign, which encourages greater visibility of Sussex products. A total of 32 Sussex-origin items are now on sale to a global audience across the airport’s retail outlets, restaurants and bars.

The ‘Meet the Local Producer’ event builds on Gatwick’s ongoing commitment to champion local and regional produce within its wider retail offer.

London Gatwick Economic Partnerships Manager Richard Lennard commented: “We’re incredibly proud to have brought together such a vibrant mix of local producers and airport retailers. Events like this are a powerful way to showcase the quality and creativity of our region while helping businesses spark long-term opportunities. Supporting local enterprise is a key part of our strategy and we’ll continue to explore new ways to champion the incredible producers on our doorstep.”

Barry Drennan, Sales Manager, from Hepworth Brewery in West Sussex added: “Being at London Gatwick puts local producers on a national and international stage and their ethos is all about making sure local businesses are part of the conversation, not on the sidelines.

“The event was a fantastic opportunity to meet buyers face-to-face and showcase the incredible quality we have in the South East. What makes it even more valuable is being part of a collective – together we can raise visibility and show the strength of local businesses in one place.”

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