Food Innovation Centre Supports the Notting Hill Carnival: A full blooded Caribbean Celebration!

Held each August Bank Holiday since 1966, the Notting Hill Carnival is the largest festival celebration of its kind in Europe. This has been a means for Afro-Caribbean Communities to celebrate their own cultures and traditions.  Every year the streets of West London come alive, with the sounds and smells of Europe’s biggest street festival. Twenty miles of vibrant colourful costumes surround over 40 static sound systems, hundreds of Caribbean food stalls, over 40,000 volunteers and over 1 million Notting Hill revellers.

Starting its life as a local festival set up by the West Indian community of the Notting Hill area, it has now become a full – blooded Caribbean carnival attracting millions of visitors from all over the globe. With many astonishing floats and the sounds of the traditional steel drum bands, plus hundreds of stalls that line the streets of Notting Hill. The Notting Hill Carnival is arguable London’s most exciting annual event.

The Carnival dates of 2010 are August 29th and 30th. The Notting Hill Carnival usually, gets under way on the Saturday with the steel band competition. Sunday is Kid's Day, when the costume prizes are awarded. On Bank Holiday Monday, the main parade takes place. It generally begins on Great Western Road, then winds its way along Chepstow Road, on to Westbourne Grove and then Ladbroke Grove. In the evening, the floats leave the streets in procession and people continue playing at the many Notting Hill Carnival after parties.

Park Royal Partnership, through its Food Innovation Centre is offering support to two afro - Caribbean businesses, taking part in this year's Carnival. The two beneficiaries are Essential Caribbean, that is about to launch a Caribbean style meals franchise, and Nilaco manufacturers of Caribbean Style Drinks (brand CariBesta, as seen in Asda).

Subject to eligibility, Park Royal Partnership, through its Food Innovation Centre is able to offer practical assistance to such businesses. The objective is to both help London’s small and medium sized food and drink companies achieve growth through innovation and best practice, as well as to promote and support healthy eating and sustainable local food and drink production. Additionally, the Food Innovation Centre aims to raise awareness of all stakeholder’s needs in the food and drink supply chain (e.g. governmental bodies, suppliers and customers) by providing a central support network where businesses can come for help and guidance.

Since its launch in October 2009, more than 35 local businesses have benefited from its services, which include access to a food industry mentor with more than 20 years experience, a state of the art development kitchen, training and specialist services, as well as briefings and industry networking events. To find out more about the Food Innovation Centre click here.