BUSINESSES from across East Yorkshire have reported record sales and huge demand at this year's Yum! Food Festival.
Thousands of visitors flocked to the city centre as the festival took over Queen Victoria Square with demonstrations and market stalls.
More than 32,000 more people came to King Edward Street compared with the same weekend the previous month, with a 75 per cent increase on Saturday alone.
Many stallholders sold out on the first day, having to spend the whole night cooking up more produce.
Matt Cunnah, owner of city food shops Hull Pie and Pie 2, said: "Each year it gets better and better. I now have two businesses, so it's these sort of local events that are important to us to help with brand awareness and sales.
"We sold out each day. Sales were up by 25 per cent, so that's a significant increase year on year."
Princes Avenue restaurant Thai House also saw success. It was the business's first time at Yum!
Owner Gabrielle Rowland said: "The first day, we were over-run with customers, so we brought twice as much the next day.
"On Saturday, we sold out twice, so we had to keep restocking.
"It was really quite amazing how well we did and we're looking forward to taking part again next year."
The festival, funded by city centre support group Hull Business Improvement District (BID), was created to show off Hull's food and drink offering.
It was also hoped visitors would boost footfall in neighbouring shops.
Hull BID city centre manager Kathryn Shillito said: "Our Yum! Festival of Food and Drink promised to be bigger, bolder and more enticing, and this was evident by the sheer number of visitors.
"The 2014 festival was expanded to include a wider range of cuisine and culture, with food from 15 individual countries, and the main marquee proved to be a big hit with food, live music and cookery demonstrations running into the evening.
"Many of our member businesses participated in the event but other city retailers also noticed improved sales because of the substantial increase in footfall."
As well as East Yorkshire companies, the festival also drew in firms from outside the area.
They included Leeds company The Pizza Guy.
Owner Simon Walker said: "From an economic and brand awareness point of view, we'd definitely do it again."
Festival highlights• Hull Pie sold 700 pies on the first day this year, compared with 700 across the whole event last year.
• Happy Hounds dog biscuits sold out daily and had to cook through the night for the next day.
• Thai House, Princes Avenue, sold out twice on Saturday and kept restocking.
• The Pizza Guy sold almost 200 slices in one day.
• Rose Cottage Pies sold out.
• Patrick Macaroons and Pâtisserie were up all night baking to cope with demand.
• American Chip Spice was inundated, selling almost 1,000 jars.
• Emma's Cheesecakes sold out daily.
• Ilovehogroast.com sold out.
• Business news for Hull and East Yorkshire
