- Date and time: Wednesday June 27, 2012 – 12:00 – 17:00
Venue: British Academy, 10-11 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AH
Description:
With the UK threatened by the euro zone crisis, struggling to find a way out of the current economic slump and running a huge trade deficit, politicians want to rebalance the economy towards production and tradable goods. Most of the proposals tabled so far relate to building high tech sectors of the future in which the UK can become an export leader. People like Mary Portas pursue a different tack, trying to persuade consumers to ‘buy British’ at a premium price. The problem is that little attention is being paid to the mundane, price sensitive items of everyday consumption which we often import –items like pork and bacon.
To address this issue, on Wednesday June 27th the Centre for Research on Socio Cultural Change (CRESC) will be hosting a seminar on supermarket business models, supply chain dynamics and industrial policy for renewal to be held at the British Academy in London on Wednesday 27th June 2012, between 12.00 and 17.00.
This seminar is the launch event for an independent, public interest report “Bringing Home the Bacon”, launched on Tuesday June 26th, from the CRESC research centre at the University of Manchester whose research on the pig meat chain was co-sponsored by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and VION Food Group.
The research raises fundamental questions about the consequences of opportunist dealing for UK import dependence, establishes the financial viability of the distinctive Morrisons model in the mass market, criticises government policy and concludes radically by arguing that the future of the pig meat chain depends on new ownership to change business models and behaviours.
From 1.00pm onwards three CRESC researchers and three industry figures will make a series of short presentations which raise different issues and present different points of view. The aim is to stimulate informed and uninhibited discussion about sector problems and industrial policy remedies. This will be under Chatham House rules i.e. academics, industry representatives and journalists are free to use information from the seminar but not to disclose the source or identity of any participant.
The event is open to all those with an interest in industrial renewal, but spaces are limited and bookings need to be made in advance. We hope you can join us on the day which begins with a buffet lunch at 12 noon. If you would like to attend, please email our administrators at cresc.events@manchester.ac.uk by Friday 22nd June. The venue is the British Academy at 10-11 Carlton House Terrace, SW1Y 5AH in Central London, a two-minute walk away from Trafalgar Square. The nearest tube stations are Charing Cross/Embankment and Piccadilly Circus. A map is available here
Main contact for this event:
