Kettering MP makes Weetabix plea for government breakfast tables

5 May 2016

Weetabix cereal should be the breakfast of choice at governmental international trade conferences, according to an MP.

Philip Hollobone made the plea in the Commons in support of the wholegrain rectangles, which are produced in his Northamptonshire constituency.

He said the "great British breakfast cereal" should be served at all early meetings held by environment ministers.

Environment Secretary Liz Truss told him she kept a box of the cereal on her desk "for all visitors to see".

"It's a real example of linking farm through to fork," she said.

However, she did not go quite as far as agreeing to the request made by Mr Hollobone, the Conservative MP for Kettering.

In response to the exchange, Speaker of the House, John Bercow, quipped: "We've learnt more about [the secretary of state's] domestic arrangements."

The House of Commons website said it "actively champions the producing, buying and eating of British food".

Have you had yours?

Weetabix was first sold in the UK in 1932 when the British and African Cereal Company was formed and began producing the cereal
During World War Two, sales of Weetabix were restricted to the midlands and north East
The mills at Burton Latimer now export to more than 80 countries
In 2012, Chinese-owned Bright Food bought a 60% stake in the firm in a £1.2bn deal
The company, which also owns the Alpen, Ready Brek and Weetos brands, employs 1,800 workers in Burton Latimer and Corby in Northamptonshire