Archive for the ‘Food and drink’ Category
|Business Thinking SW winner: Burts Potato Chips
Wednesday, April 11th, 2012
Following its nomination as a South West England regional finalist and Thought Exchange visit to the UAE Burts Potato Chips has been declared a regional winner in the HSBC Business Thinking initiative.
In little more than a decade, Burts Potato Chips co-founder Nick Hurst has taken the Devon-based firm from a niche snack producer to an exporter selling crisps to 28 overseas markets.
Read more: The Telegraph
Posted in Food and drink, Latest news | Comments Off
Taw Valley Creamery
Wednesday, November 30th, 2011
The Taw Valley Creamery forms part of the larger Milk Link group, the UK’s largest cheese manufacturer, employing over 1,200 staff in total.
Milk Link is the most progressive integrated dairy business and is owned by more than 1600, British dairy farmers. The majority of these members are based in the South West of England. In 2010/11 all of their members were independently accredited to the Assured Dairy Farm Standard, demonstrating that they produce milk to the highest standards of food safety and animal welfare. Their farmer membership is made up of a range of farms – large farms of 200+ cows, small farms of 30 cows, organic farms and traditional dairy 
farms. The combined members produce around 12% of total milk supply in Britain and in 2010/11 Milk Link generated a turnover of £586m.
The Taw Valley Creamery has been producing award winning cheese since 1974. They produce a full range of award-winning Cheddars, Red Leicester, Double Gloucester and Reduced Fat cheese. At the 2010 Nantwich International Cheese Show, it was awarded 16 gold awards. 
Taw Valley is also the home of Tickler, it’s fabulous extra mature cheddar named Supreme Champion at the 2008 Royal Welsh Show. At the Devon County Show in 2011, Taw Valley mature cheddar was named Supreme Champion Cheese for the first time at this event.
As well as the products which Taw Valley supply in their own Creamery shop they also provide bespoke recipes for a number of high street retailers including Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Waitrose, M&S, Iceland & Booker.
Website: Taw Valley Creamery
Posted in Case studies, Food and drink, Manufacturing | Comments Off
Venus Company
Wednesday, November 9th, 2011
The Venus Company operates Venus Cafes at the beaches of Blackpool Sands, East Portlemouth and Bigbury On Sea, and a new Café at Dartington near Totnes, all in South Devon.
When co-founders, Michael and Louisa Smith with Lee Porter, started
the business in 1995, the mission was to be the greenest beach café and shop operator. The Venus Company’s ethos is to ensure that customer’s needs are balanced carefully with environmental and social considerations. Venus has consistently integrated environmental and social care into every business decision in support of its business mission. The company strives to minimise any harmful effects and maximise the beneficial influences of its activities on the environment and the community.
Today the company serves local and organic produce to over 850,
000 customers a year and spends approximately £650,000 per annum on local goods and services. Venus turnover tops the £2.0m mark employs 27 core employees and a further 45 seasonal staff and part time summer catering staff.
Today Michael Smith, managing director, explains ‘with steady business growth and a string of top awards, crowned by the Queen’s Award for Enterprise and Sustainable Development in 2005 and again in 2010, it is a testament to the company’s achievements’.
Website: Venus Company
Posted in Case studies, Food and drink, Tourism services | Comments Off
South Devon Chilli Farm
Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011
Jason Nickels and Steve Waters, together with their families, run the South Devon Chilli Farm. They have been growing chillies on an increasingly large scale since 2003 when they left their jobs in IT and decided to set up the chilli farm.
Since its launch the chilli farm has seen fantastic growth, both in terms of plantings and national, and increasingly, international demand. Jason and Steve now employ 12 staff members and grow over 10,000 chilli plants each year, harvesting tonnes of fresh chillies as a result. The majority of the chillies are used in their delicious range of chilli sauces, preserves and chilli chocolate. As well as being sold on-site and on their website, they also supply many outlets in the West Country, nationwide and further afield.
Earlier this year Jason and Steve opened the doors to a new chilli
themed farm shop and café. This new venture is unique in the country as it gives visitors the chance to come and explore around the chilli farm and sample the wide range of products on offer. The cafe, which is positioned with lovely views over the farm, extends the visitor experience by offering a mouth-watering selection of dishes for lunch. It also makes an excellent venue for both business meetings and informal get togethers over coffee.
Their growth as a company has been well documented in the media with numerous features in national newspapers as well as TV appearances on BBC Gardeners’ World, BBC Country File, ITV, West Country TV and UKTV Food. They are also recommended by Jamie Oliver as a supplier of chillies. Tom Parker-Bowles, food writer and confirmed chilli lover has also recommended their products in his regular Mail on Sunday column.
Website: South Devon Chilli Farm
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