Business Details
Trusted Food & Drink PR Experts in Sussex
Established over four decades ago, F M L Public Relations has built an enduring reputation as a specialist in food and drink public relations. Our agency combines deep industry knowledge with creative campaign strategies, delivering measurable results for clients ranging from independent restaurants to major food brands. With a dedicated team of PR professionals, we offer tailored services including media relations, event management, and digital marketing.Our long-standing client relationships, some spanning 20+ years, reflect our commitment to understanding business objectives and exceeding expectations. We pride ourselves on innovative thinking that transforms ordinary brand narratives into compelling stories, maintaining our position as one of the UK's leading food-focused PR agencies.
Services
Consumer PR
Trade PR
Corporate PR
Event Management
Foodservice PR
Restaurant Campaigns
Digital Marketing
Media Relations
Highlights and features
- 40+ years' specialist experience in food and drink PR
- Proven track record with award-winning campaigns
- Long-standing relationships with industry leaders
- Integrated approach combining traditional and digital PR
- Dedicated team of CIPR-accredited professionals
What people say
Truly passionate about food and drink
Helped increase consumer awareness
Creative campaign strategies
Industry thought leadership
Measurable business results
Services
Consumer PR
We develop targeted public relations strategies that connect food brands with consumers. Our approach combines creative storytelling with media outreach to build brand awareness and drive engagement. With specialist knowledge of food trends and consumer behaviour, we create campaigns that resonate with target audiences while delivering measurable business results.
Event Management
From intimate press lunches to large-scale industry awards, we orchestrate events that generate media coverage and strengthen brand positioning. Our meticulous planning ensures seamless execution, while our creative concepts deliver memorable experiences that align with client objectives and enhance industry reputation through strategic networking opportunities.
Digital Marketing
Our digital strategies integrate social media, content marketing, and online reputation management to amplify brand messages. We leverage data-driven insights to create engaging digital content that boosts online visibility while maintaining consistent brand messaging across platforms, ensuring effective audience engagement in the evolving digital landscape.
Media Relations
We cultivate strong relationships with food journalists and industry publications to secure impactful media coverage. Our targeted press outreach strategies ensure client stories reach relevant audiences through tailored pitches, press releases, and media briefings that position brands as industry thought leaders.
Restaurant PR
Specialist public relations services for restaurants and hospitality businesses, focusing on brand positioning and customer acquisition. We create strategic campaigns that highlight unique selling points, manage online reputation, and drive footfall through targeted media exposure and industry networking initiatives tailored to the competitive hospitality sector.
People
Hilary de Mussenden Leathes
Joint Managing Director
With a background in home economics and food industry experience, Hilary brings strategic leadership to our PR campaigns, combining culinary expertise with business acumen to deliver effective client solutions.
Gerri McNally
Joint Managing Director
Gerri's extensive FMCG and third-sector campaign experience informs our strategic approach, ensuring creative yet commercially viable PR solutions that address both brand and business objectives across diverse client portfolios.
Jane Saward
Senior Account Director
CIPR-accredited with 16+ years in PR, Jane specialises in developing comprehensive communication strategies that build brand equity and deliver measurable results for food and drink sector clients.
Emma Turner
Senior Account Manager
With decade-long FMCG brand management experience, Emma excels at translating client briefs into impactful PR campaigns that combine creative thinking with practical execution across multiple platforms.
Questions
What industries do you specialise in?
We focus exclusively on food and drink sectors, covering restaurants, hospitality, food manufacturing, and agricultural producers across the UK.
How do you measure PR campaign success?
We track media coverage volume, quality of placements, audience engagement metrics, and direct business outcomes aligned with client KPIs.
Can you handle both traditional and digital PR?
Our integrated approach combines media relations with social media strategy, content marketing, and online reputation management for comprehensive coverage.
Do you work with international clients?
While based in Sussex, we manage campaigns for UK-focused businesses with occasional international elements through our media contacts network.
What event sizes do you manage?
We handle events from intimate 10-person press briefings to large-scale 300+ guest productions, always maintaining meticulous attention to detail.
How do you develop campaign strategies?
We begin with in-depth brand analysis, market research, and competitor benchmarking to create tailored strategies that align with business objectives.
