Dorset Food & Drink (DF&D) have been showcasing and supporting the local food and drink sector and bringing together a mouth-watering programme of food & drink events since 2011.
DF&D are a not-for-profit CIC (community interest company) – and continue to promote food, drink and hospitality businesses based in Dorset who make, serve, and sell great local products, by celebrating their connection to this beautiful county, many of them award-winning!
Since the pandemic, our events and markets have proudly showcased a more diverse range of artisans who make, grow, sew, carve, paint, draw, knit, sculpt, and sell all manner of local loveliness.
We like working with stallholders who:
– Are local to Dorset and the surrounding area.
– Create high-quality products with links to the county.
– Present their products in an attractive way, highlighting the artisan feel of an event or market.
– Promote and use ethical & sustainable materials in the making and packaging of their products.
– Who have sustainability at the heart of their business. (As such we do not allow single-use plastic packaging)
– Are keen to share their passion with others.
Public liability Insurance
– Stallholders must have and carry with them their own Public Liability Insurance.
– We recommend that you have public liability insurance of up to £10,000 000.
– If you employ a person or persons to staff your stall, you must provide employers liability insurance for a minimum of £5M.
Food stalls
– Food producers & stallholders must meet food safety requirements and hold relevant registration/certification with their relevant local authority.
– Food must be properly labelled and have allergen information available for customers to view.
– Stalls should be clearly labelled with the business name, contact details and Food Hygiene Rating.
– Any person/s involved in food preparation on any stand- must hold a relevant food hygiene qualification, the Level 2 Food Safety Certificate as a minimum.
– A high level of personal cleanliness must be always maintained, including regular cleaning/disinfecting, use of antibacterial wipes and alcohol gel as appropriate. Separate facilities for hand and utensil washing must be provided including sufficient hot water.
– All food must be produced by the seller or if materially changed by them, then any necessary ingredients should be purchased from a known reliable and hygienic supplier.
– High risk foods must be kept always separate from raw foods and food handled as little as possible.
– Produce weighing, labelling, and packaging must comply with Trading Standards. Stallholders are advised to post prices of their produce in a clearly visible position and may only sell from their stalls the goods detailed in the application form.
Alcohol
– Stalls selling alcohol are required to apply for and display a relevant TENS licence for an event or market.
Gazebos
– You are required to supply your own robust or commercial grade gazebo.
– Please ensure they are sufficiently weighted and/or strapped for the prevailing conditions and the gazebo is properly secured. Garden type structures are not advised and on some sites, will not be allowed.
– Our events/markets are primarily outdoors – so please aware that gazebos and temporary structures are vulnerable to severe weather, wind, and other factors.
– Stallholders must provide their own tables/chairs.
Electricity & Gas
– DF&D large events and festivals will usually offer an electric hook up to stallholders at an additional cost
– Silent certified generators are allowable ONLY by prior arrangement only. If you are using a generator, please ensure that it is registered as silent or super silent and that it creates no more than 69 decibels.
– Any equipment and leads powered by such generator must be P.A.T. tested and certified. Certificates must be supplied prior to the event/market.
– LPG must be gas safe and certified, and a suitable fire extinguisher (minimum4kg CO2) immediately available to trained staff. Gas safety certificates must be supplied prior to the event or market. Gas tanks must be easily accessible for emergency cut off but not accessible to minors or anyone who may tamper with them.
Pitch Fees
– DF&D will invoice for the full amount of your pitch fee.
– Your pitch is not secure until payment has been received, a risk assessment is completed, and a copy of your current Public Liability insurance and food hygiene documents (if applicable) are supplied.
– All pitch fees invoiced by us – DF&D -include VAT and are payable via BACS.
– Prompt payment of your pitch fee is appreciated. Thank you.
Cancellations
– If severe weather conditions and high winds are forecast and it is deemed unsafe to continue, then the event will be cancelled. An event or market will not be cancelled due to rain being forecast.
– In the event of us cancelling the event due to severe weather, stallholders will be issued with a 50% refund of their pitch fee, or their pitch carried over to the next event.
– In the event of an event or market being cancelled- we will contact stallholders by email or WhatsApp on the day before the event – please ensure you have provided an up-to-date email address and mobile number and that you check regularly for updates before the event.
– On the day of an event or market, once pitch fees have been paid and your pitch is confirmed, any cancellations or no-shows will be charged in full.
Please note: Events and markets will go ahead in rain or shine unless high winds make it dangerous to trade. We will put in place all reasonable plans to ensure that markets and events go ahead as advertised, however we cannot be held responsible for circumstances outside our control, or which lead to a change or cancellation.
The organisers or DF&D will not be liable for any expenses due to event cancellation.
General
– Please note: any references to “footfall” are based on estimates or previous estimates.
– We cannot ever guarantee footfall especially for events that have free public entry.
– Weather, other events, political climate and even the product being sold etc. can all have positive and negative impact on events. It is up to traders to make up their own estimation as to whether an event or market is viable for them.
– Submission of an application form does not guarantee a place at the market – we want a good day for all stallholders and an exciting range of stalls – so we will only have two or three of each type of product unless they are significantly different.
– We will email you to confirm your pitch and provide payment information.
– Images of your products and stall set-up are essential – we are looking for stallholders who can present an interesting & visually appealing market display. (We can view these via your social media)
Building Your Stall
– When building your stall please show consideration for other stallholders and for members of the public. Please ensure that you do not create any trip hazards.
– Stalls located on a highway (markets) should not encroach on the pavement or kerb unless instructed by the organiser/s.
– Vehicles should be removed as soon as unloaded and prior to stall build, to a car park.
– No vehicles shall remain in the trading area during event or market operation, unless authorised by the event or market manager/s.
Stall Allocation
– The allocation of stalls is solely the responsibility and at the discretion of the Event or Market organiser/s.
– Stallholders must accept the location of the stall allocated to them and no encroachment of position will be allowed.
– In the event of stall positions being changed due to unforeseen circumstances, the event or market organisers’ decision is final.
Waste & Recycling
– Stallholders should remove all boxes, packaging and debris throughout the day and take all rubbish generated by them, home at the end of an event or market.
– Food or drinks served in single use plastic or polystyrene containers are not permitted.
– Stallholders are responsible for removing their own rubbish. Trader recycling is encouraged if there are facilities on site or nearby.
– Stallholders serving food/drinks to be consumed within the event/market must ensure they provide a waste bin at their stall position for customers to use.
Event/ Market closure procedure
– Packing up should not begin before the market closes.
– We ask that even if you run out of produce, you remain at the event/market until it closes as it affects the overall look of the event. Consider it as an opportunity to promote your produce/products and other aspects of your business through your leaflets and chatting to customers.
– Vehicle movement on site is only allowed when the Event organiser or Market manager indicates it is safe to do so.
Antisocial behaviour by stallholders will not be tolerated and will result in instant dismissal from the event or market.
Disclaimer
Dorset Food & Drink cannot accept responsibility for the loss of or damage to goods or equipment.
Thanks for taking the time to read this.
We wish you a happy, healthy & successful 2024 trading season and look forward to receiving your application to trade.
Please submit your application HERE.
