CHEFS’ READY TO RUN

Eight of the industry’s top chefs will compete against Fullers brewery runners in this year’s Flora London Marathon on Sunday April 13th when the ‘Chefs on the Run’ team, will be led by Michelin starred chef Michel Roux Jr.

Joining Roux, who has run 16 marathons – 10 in London - will be Hospitality Action's Ambassador Anton Edelmann; Jerome Ponchelle, of The Wiltons; Robert Clayton, of Merchant Inns; Jean Luc Hoez, of Coq d'Argent; Paul Robinson, of the Wheatsheaf Inn; Christophe Gueraud, ex-head chef of L'Escargot and Shane O'Connor of Unilever Foodsolutions (Flora).

They are all training and after months of healthy eating and preparation will take to the capital's streets to run 26.2 miles in pursuit of personal pride and fund-raising goals.

And the big challenge will be competing against the London Pride team from the Chiswick-based Fullers, Smith & Turner who entered last year to celebrate the company sponsoring the event. They are keen to take on the challenge and go head-to-head with the chefs with individual times collated and an average time given to the team.

Unilever's category director Susan Gregory, said: "It's fantastic to see so many of our industry's finest coming together to compete in one of the world's greatest marathons and great to be working with London's last remaining traditional family brewer.

"They have all come together to promote the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and the importance of eating and drinking sensibly. The challenge will generate excitement on the day and incentivise the runners to push themselves that little bit further."

"For the runners to commit to such a worthy cause and to use the little spare time they have to train is really something. It's going to take hard work and determination but we're confident that they'll do it and raise a lot of money for their charities in the process."

* Operators can also join in the fun by offering customers a healthier choice in the Flora customer promotion. On purchase diners receive a card with a unique number - a team finishing time - to be entered into a UK-wide prize draw to win several dream holiday tickets worth £1,000 each. For details log on to www.unileverfoodsolutions.co.uk.

Words: Les Leonard

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