Guernsey mark will identify local produce for diners
Diners at restaurants and cafes will soon be seeing a new symbol identifying local produce on menus across the island.
The Guernsey mark is being launched this spring to highlight when local products are being used and sold.
The driving force behind the scheme is local businesswoman Chantal Lee Rautenbach, who runs Guernsey Hampers and already works with more than 50 local companies.
‘I just want to shout about how amazing our local products are and get everyone as excited as I am about them,’ she said.
‘I’m a chef by trade and very involved with the local food scene, including the eat drink and be local scheme that started in 2017.
‘We have been looking for a while at how we can showcase local produce for local people and tourism, for everyone to be able to see what local products eateries have been using and over the last 18 months that has evolved into the Guernsey Mark.’
Ms Rautenbach has been working with design agency TPA on the new logo, which is based around the location marker used on apps like google maps.
‘It had to be clear even if it is small so we could use it on menus,’ she said.
‘We are now working on the website where we can tell all the amazing stories of people making and championing local products.’
The scheme has benefited from funds awarded by the Tourism Management Board, which earlier this month revealed the Guernsey Mark was one of nine Bailiwick tourism projects given one-off funding.
‘We wouldn’t have been able to do this without the funding, not to this extent, it has allowed us to commit the time we needed to get it off the ground.’
She said it was important to for visitors to the island to see local goods on the menu.
‘I know why I travel I want to partake in local foods, and sample what a region has to offer, and I want that to be as easy to see as possible.
‘It will show everyone what dishes on a menu use local produce, even if that’s just local jam going into a pudding and hopefully that will help put companies in touch with each other.
‘In the long term we want to get retailers involved too and build the idea year by year,' Ms Rautenbach added.
The mark should launch at the start of April.
