Buy Local

Have you heard about the 2012 Buy Local Challenge?

This summer Norfolk is calling on its people to commit – for just a week – to use only local shops, services and products.

Not surprisingly the great and the good think it’s a great idea and we’re all being urged think before we buy, bearing in mind that if a business has its head office out of the county then it’s not local!

Of course it’s all about consumer choice – and there’s plenty of that within the coffee and sandwich sector.  And while Norwich is fortunate to have a healthy spread of independent cafes and bars, it’s the chains that dominate in the prime footfall (high rent) areas.

That’s the problem with our high streets today – it’s only the deep pocketed giants that can afford to be in the most central areas, which means that customers have to make an extra effort to seek out us independents.

But thank goodness that they do – or cities such as Norwich would lose that eclectic vibrancy that’s so cherished.  Not only that, customers would surely be forced to lower their expectations too.  And that would be a sad day indeed.      

Three cheers for Buy Local.

 http://www.expresso-online.co.uk/

How To Choose an Outside Caterer

So you’re having ‘a do’ and would like to offer your guests a little more than crisps and nuts….

On the one hand it may be tempting to have a go at doing the catering yourself.  But on the other hand do you really want the stress of catering for a large number of people (especially bearing in mind the size of your oven/kitchen)?  You’ll probably need to borrow glasses, serving platters and cutlery etc, so why not make your life a little easier and book an outside caterer?

We understand that booking caterers is something many people don’t do very often, but most would surely agree that sometimes you simply can’t do it all yourself!

But regardless of whether you want food simply dropped off at your door or would like a fully-staffed event you still have to find your caterer.

So where do you start?  Read on for Expresso’s Ten Top Tips on How To Choose and Outside Caterer.

 http://www.expresso-online.co.uk/How_to_Choose_an_Outside_Caterer_.html