Be a Vital Part of Florida’s Premier Food & Wine Festival
Business and Patron Sponsorships Now Available!
Presented by The Sarasota-Manatee Originals, Forks & Corks, a four-day culinary celebration, brings together celebrated regional chefs and world-renowned vintners.
(Sarasota, Florida) Forks & Corks Food & Wine Festival, a four-day culinary festival presented by The Sarasota-Manatee Originals (SMO), unites food and wine enthusiasts with preeminent regional chefs and celebrated vintners from around the world. But it also unites area-based businesses to form common cause with one of the area’s most important economic multipliers—the regional culinary and hospitality industry. In the eight years since it was founded, dozens of outstanding area-based businesses and organizations have embraced and supported the festival.
“We’re elated to have the strong support from the local business community over these past eight years,” says Kate Atkin, executive director of The Sarasota-Manatee Originals. “These forward-thinking companies join us in celebrating the region’s culinary distinctiveness. As savvy business people, they understand that the restaurant industry is big business and that The Sarasota-Manatee Originals’ independently owned restaurants are a major part of how we promote our region to the world.”
In preparation for the 2016 festival, festival organizers recently designed a sponsorship campaign with opportunities for a limited amount of businesses and individuals. Corporate sponsorships start at $2,500, and include guaranteed tickets to The Grand Tasting and other events, business logo inclusion on the festival website, social media, and festival program and event signage. “Festival sponsors enjoy many meaningful perks—including acquiring coveted tickets to events that sell out within minutes,” says Atkin. She explains that upper level sponsors (10K above) will be offered industry exclusivity. (See full sponsorship opportunities in attached pdf.)
In the past two years, tickets for The Grand Tasting, the anchor event of Forks & Corks, have sold out within the first 10 minutes of the online sale. In response to this, Atkin explains that festival organizers initiated the Patron Sponsorship so that serious Grand Tasting fans could be assured of tickets before the sale opens to the public. This $1,000 initiative offers numerous benefits, including the most coveted—four VIP tickets to The Grand Tasting. Only 20 Patron Sponsorships are available for purchase. Other benefits include tickets to the 2016 Forks and Corks kick-off party, early admittance to The Grand Tasting, a champagne reception at the event, covered seating, a private tour of the museum, and recognition as a festival patron. For more information about corporate or patron sponsorship opportunities, contact Kate Atkin at 941-365-2800; [email protected].
For more information about the ninth annual Forks & Corks Food & Wine Festival, visit www.dineoriginal.com/forksandcorks, or call 941-365-2800.
About the Sarasota-Manatee Originals
The Sarasota-Manatee Originals is a not-for-profit trade organization founded in 2003. Together, more than 50 locally-owned, independent restaurants throughout Sarasota and Manatee counties work collaboratively to celebrate and promote the creative cuisine of the region, from unique quick service eateries and waterfront family restaurants to award-winning fine dining establishments. Passionate member restaurateurs work together to produce community events, optimize cooperative marketing efforts and develop synergistic partnerships among members as they focus on preserving the culinary heritage of the region. With more Florida Trend and Zagat top-scoring restaurants within a 20-mile radius of downtown Sarasota than any other area in the Florida, the Sarasota-Manatee Originals is dedicated to sharing the area’s vibrant culinary scene with the world. For more information, call 941-365-2800 or visit www.dineoriginal.com.
