Our Market Kitchen's Local Food Heroes campaign is a celebration of Britain’s much-loved regional food businesses. We're asking food lovers to tell us about their food heroes, based on the following criteria:

LOCAL
We're looking for...
• Supporters of the community; who champion food with a strong connection to the local area. For example, this could mean employing staff who live nearby; providing training tie-ups with colleges; celebrating regional culinary traditions; sourcing of local ingredients, and offering a key service to local residents.
• Businesses that best reflect the strengths and diversity of their regions:
East Anglia
London
Midlands
North East
North West
Northern Ireland
Scotland
South East
South West
Wales

FOOD
We're looking for...
• renowned taste
• Quality produce
• Friendly customer service
• An awareness of seasonality, animal welfare and ethical issues
• Respect for the land and how it is farmed.

Heroes might include a range of businesses, such as the coffee shop selling delicious home-made cakes; the local fishmonger; a deli offering a range of local produce; or the butcher selling meat from locally reared animals.

HERO
We're looking for...
• Commitment
Our heroes should demonstrate sound business practice, confront the challenges they face with tenacity and treat their customers with respect. These will be people who have a story to tell and can communicate their passion to others. They deliver above and beyond expectation and their trade is more than a job – it's a way of life.
• Passion
We want to find small-scale businesses who exhibit pride and passion for their craft and profession.