South West CoRE : Food Chain continued

Market Opportunities

Aims and Overview

Nationally, the Supply Chains Centre; English Farming and Food Partnerships; Red Meat Industry Forum; Agricultural Development Scheme; Organic Action Plan and the Food Industry Sustainability Strategy are already in place and active in strengthening the food chain.

The challenge under this priority theme is to deliver social and environmental results on a foundation of profitable farming and food businesses. There is considerable potential for South West farming, food and drink businesses to develop by exploiting the growing consumer demand for locally distinctive, regionally associated and environmentally friendly food and drink products.

There are currently some 3,000 food and drink businesses in the region and at least 1500 micro-businesses providing significant local links in the food chain. In farming, there are almost 40,000 full and part-time businesses in the region. Barely 600 farming and food businesses employ more than 10 people; consequently the industry as a whole is fragmented.

English Beef and Lamb Executive (EBLEX)

The EBLEX objective is to create a sustainable and competitive beef and lamb sector. We deliver a wide range of technology transfer and market information services to businesses across the English beef and lamb supply chain.

Eblex publish some useful information such asSheep and Beef Practical Pointers, including information such as Single Payment Scheme and set-aside issues, crop codes and dairy converters.

Instructions to register for any of the above information to be sent direct to you from Eblex.

Taste of the West

Improving business competitiveness

A range of workshops and seminars are organised to coincide with market developments, to meet legal requirements and producers' specific needs.The Taste of the West Food and Drink Awards is an industry recognised competition, sponsored by a multiple retailer. The awards give promotional support to winning producers, and companies use their award as a key marketing tool

Increase Market Potential

Trade events for the retail and food service industry are organised and supported by Taste of the West. These events allow companies to promote to potential customers and allow fellow producers to establish business relationships thus enabling improved services to customers.

Meet the buyer events appear frequently within Taste of the West's diary proving particularly successful amongst producers. These events provide multiples, independent retailers and catering chains an effective opportunity to discover new products and services that are available.

Sustaining businesses, creating opportunity

Since established in 1991 Taste of the West has become respected for giving good, practical advice. It acts as an industry body to guide businesses in the right direction, to provide contacts for extra advice, and even acts as the region's media information line for food and drink issues.

Good market intelligence is hard to access. Taste of the West is aware of the benefits that intelligence provides to companies, and constantly strives to build good contacts throughout the industry.

For more information please contact John Sheaves or Gill Ainge on 01392 440745 or email js@tasteofthewest.co.uk or gill.ainge@tasteofthewest.co.uk.

View more information on the Exeter Festival of South West England Food & Drink in Northernhay Gardens, Exeter from 30th March to 1st April 2007.

Meat South West

Meat South West are proposing standards for the production of meat in the South West to be linked to an application for PDO status. The South West Meat Standards document, as well as detailing the discussion at meetings hosted by Meat SW, also outline the proposed amended standards as a result of issues discussed.

View brief details about Meat South West and its general aims.

For more information please contact Helen Ashcroft on 01837 880443 or email meatsouthwest@eclipse.co.uk.

Gloucestershire's Food Vision

The Gloucestershire Food Vision is shaping the future production, supply and consumption of food in the County and beyond; it is changing how we position, celebrate and value food by understanding and caring for its production, distribution and presentation; and it is working to change attitudes positively towards food to influence future strategic policy and business decisions in Gloucestershire. The position and value of food can provide part of the answer for long-term improvements of health, social, environmental and economic well-being.

Gloucestershire's Food Vision - an integrated food policy for the people of Gloucestershire. The Gloucestershire Food Vision will be shaping the future production, supply and consumption of food in the county and beyond.

Natural Beef Company

The Natural Beef Company has been launched at Huish Farm on the Heanton Estate of Clinton Devon Estates, North Devon. Visit the Natural Beef Company website for more information.