Dorset-based artisan ice cream maker, Baboo Gelato, the manufacturers of an award-winning range of gelato ice cream and frozen dog treat, Doggy Doggy Yum Yum are celebrating as they have secured a major distribution deal with Hunt’s Food Group based in Sherborne. Hunt’s is one of the UK’s leading distributors delivering products to over 6,000 customers across the South, in food & drink, catering and retail sectors. This new deal will allow Baboo Gelato to expand the sales of their products across more market sectors and parts of the UK and is seen as a very exciting development for the business.

Baboo Gelato was started by husband and wife team, Sam and Annie Hanbury after they moved to Bridport, Dorset in 2012 and purchased a house with an overflowing garden and orchard. Inspired by their fruit, Annie went to Bologna to train as a professional gelatiere, before setting up a small artisanal manufacturing kitchen. They opened their first kiosk in West Bay Dorset and were overwhelmed by the wonderful response from the community. Local restaurants and pubs then wanted their product; other kiosks wanted to rebrand to carry Baboo Gelato and shops wanted them to make ice cream in tubs. They have now added kiosks in Lyme Regis, Weymouth and Swanage. The passion for the business lies in their use of quality ingredients, sourced locally where possible and not using flavourings, colours or pastes in the manufacture of their ice cream.

Baboo Gelato’s impressive range of flavours has resulted in the ice cream winning numerous awards including 42 Great Taste stars, and a coveted Three Star award for their Double Chocolate Gelato from Great Taste in 2024.   They have been Champion Ice Cream at the Taste of the West Awards in 2016 and 2020, and won awards at the Great British Food Awards (judged by The Hairy Bikers), Dorset Food and Farming, Love Local, and Muddy Stilettos.

A few years ago, Baboo Gelato following demand from their customers set about developing a frozen treat for dogs which like their gelato, has gone on to win numerous awards including a Silver PetQuip Award for Sustainability in 2022, the Pedigree Wholesale Award, New Pet Product of the Year 2022 and more recently winning the Best Pet of the Year at the Pet Industry Federation Awards 2024. As well as leading pet shops, the treat is also stocked by a long list of dog friendly cafes, restaurants, hotels, tourist attractions and pubs. Doggy Doggy Yum Yum is now manufactured in-house in new purpose-built premises at the company’s Dorset base near Rampisham.

Made with 100% peanut butter (with no xylitol) and bananas which dogs find hard to resist, this frozen treat uses coconut milk instead of dairy so it is kinder to dogs’ tummies. The winning new recipe also includes organic agave syrup (rather than refined sugars), Keepers Mix® Sensitive (0.25%) from herbal pet supplement company Dorwest and vegetable fibre.  If given as an occasional treat after a long walk in the countryside, the park or on the beach this tasty treat is perfect way to reward your dog.  Doggy Doggy contains no artificial flavourings, colours or refined sugars. The new ingredient change means that any ‘ultra processed food’ emulsifiers or stabilisers from the product have been removed which the manufacturers are extremely proud of and is something that other dog ice cream manufacturers have not achieved.

Sam Hanbury says, “We are finding limitless demand during the summer not just from obvious pet retailers and specialist dog friendly places, but from ordinary cafés, pubs, restaurants, and tourist destinations.  It just seems that most savvy people involved in Food & Drink want some of the poochie pound and we can help with a classy product, well supported with point of sale which includes stickers, leaflets, posters and an A-frame sign which comes complete with space to put a dog bowl underneath it.”

“We are absolutely delighted that we are now able to work with the Hunt’s Food Group to further expand the distribution of Baboo Gelato and Doggy Doggy Yum Yum. It is great to work with company that shares the same values as us in terms of quality, delivery service and customer care.”

Thomas Hunt, Managing Director at Hunt’s Food Group, says: “We are thrilled to welcome Baboo Gelato into the Hunt’s Food Group family. Their commitment to crafting exceptional, award-winning gelato resonates with our own dedication to quality. Just as our neighbouring charcuterie brand in Rampisham, Capreolus brings exquisite flavours to the table, Baboo Gelato elevates the dessert experience with its inventive range. Together, we’re not just distributing products; we’re curating a delightful culinary journey for our customers. This partnership allows us to expand our offerings and celebrate the local artistry in food, ensuring that every scoop and every bite brings joy to both our human and canine consumers. I would highly recommend the Mint Choc Chip which is certainly my favourite flavour!”

Baboo Gelato can support all their customers with branded freezers and point of sale material.
If you are interested in becoming a stockist then visit: www.huntsfoodgroup.co.uk

For point of sale enquiries contact Sam Hanbury at [email protected] or Tel: 01308 488629.

The Old Warehouse, Kingsbridge, re-opened its doors in style on 4th February with a sold-out launch evening showcasing the exciting new menu and the talents of new Head Chef, Iain Dawson and featuring live music from singer-songwriter Kate Hall from Plymouth.

Born in Canada, Iain became the captain of the Canadian Junior Culinary Team before moving to the UK to cut his teeth in Heston Blumenthal’s kitchens in Bray. He has most recently worked locally at ‘The Millbrook Inn’ in South Pool and the’ Live & let Live inn’ near Totnes, gaining a culinary reputation and a foodie following at both.

Iain, who now lives in Kingsbridge, is fascinated by fire (where cooking is concerned!), so much so that it’s become deeply ingrained in his culinary style. Taking quality ingredients and cooking them over the intense heat of a charcoal grill, or the more gentle caress of an outdoor smoker, he creates simple dishes with incredible flavours.

Sam Jones, co-founder of The Old Warehouse comments, ‘’Our new menus have been designed to reflect Iain’s approach to honest and familiar dishes, cooked with purpose, experience and passion, with something for everyone, whether enjoying coffee or lunch with friends, an early supper with the family, a homemade burger and a pint listening to live music or an exciting two or three course dinner with wine.’’

Says Iain, ‘’We are adventurous in the sense of what we bring to the table through our experience, but humble enough to let the ingredients speak for themselves, presenting them in a manner that will make customers feel happy and homely.’’ He continues ‘’We want customers to see our new menus as approachable and fun, to tie in with the ethos of The Old Warehouse as the place to visit 2-3 times a week for brunch, lunch, dinner, drinks, snacks, a bowl of soup, a cup of coffee, a slice of cake, some live music or an event.’’

Adds Sam, ‘’We have been thrilled to see the reaction to our new menus and style of cooking in our first week since re-opening! The reviews have been absolutely fantastic and it’s been fabulous to see the place so busy with both regular customers and new faces. Bookings are coming in thick and fast, so book ahead now to avoid any disappointment!’’

In addition to fabulous food and drink, the team at The Old Warehouse in Kingsbridge continues to bring great music to the area, with its free entry “Every Folkin’ Tuesday” nights being enjoyed by locals and visitors to the area alike throughout the year and its ticketed “Sunday Sessions” usually sold-out in advance. It has also become a popular venue for private events and parties, with occasions including milestone birthdays, engagements, small weddings and staff parties all being celebrated here.

The Old Warehouse is also home to award-winning Moonhoney Meadery – with the new menu featuring mead brewed on the premises in some of the new dishes.

If you have not yet visited The Old Warehouse what are you waiting for? Pop in to find out what all the buzz is about and to support this proudly independent, locally owned and managed business in the heart of Kingsbridge.

To book a table for lunch or dinner at The Old Warehouse, visit https://theoldwarehousekingsbridge.co.uk/book-now, call 01548 852500 or just pop in.

For tickets and details of future ‘Sunday Sessions’ and other upcoming events at The Old Warehouse, visit https://theoldwarehousekingsbridge.co.uk/theoldwarehouse-events. To make an enquiry about hosting your event at The Old Warehouse email [email protected].

Ever wanted a dairy milk vat named after you or a lifelong discount to buy award-winning cheese? If the answer is yes, then head to artisan cheesemaker Sharpham Dairy's crowdfunding campaign, ‘Curd Is The Word’, at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/sharpham-cheese

Sharpham Cheese owners Greg and Nicky Parsons encourage people to ‘join the herd’ and help them raise a target of £65,000 to enable the business to invest in renewable energy and water recycling through a host of cheese-centered rewards that people can bid for, ranging from £20 to £2,000. As well as having a milk or cheese vat in your name or bathing in milk, there’s plenty of cheese up for grabs, including a cheese making experience, cheese tour, and a Sharpham Cheese and Wine Tasting in your home hosted by Greg and drinks writer and presenter Susy Atkins. To bid for one of the lots and help them raise their target amount, follow this link www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/sharpham-cheese

This year, the award-winning Devon cheese brand which was recently named Best Overall in The Standard newspaper’s Best British Cheeses Guide, is celebrating life in their new dairy after 40 years of cheesemaking and has recently been championed by celebrity chef James Martin in his new book Cheese, and in a recent episode of his James Martin’s Saturday Morning on ITV1.

The Devon based cheese company, which crafts its cheese using the finest local milk, moved into larger premises near Totnes in 2024 as its reputation and demand for its cheese continues to grow. The £65,000 target will be used to switch the dairy to solar power (£30,000), implement water recycling (£25,000) to minimise waste and maximise efficiency, and upgrade to highly efficient cheese making equipment (£20,000) to further improve productivity and efficiency.

Greg Parsons said, “We know we’re not the only ones passionate about high-quality, sustainable food. If people believe in supporting small, independent food producers, then this is their chance to make a difference and help shape the future of British artisan cheesemaking. We’ve assembled a fantastic array of cheese-centred lots in order to raise the target amount. There’s something for everyone in there, whether you’re a cheese lover or are looking for an unusual gift for someone or even your team”.

Sharpham is the UK’s first B Corp cheese dairy, born and based near Totnes and has received outstanding accolades, including a coveted 3-star Great Taste Award for their Cremet and multiple golds for their celebrated mixed milk Rushmore cheese, as well as beloved classics like Sharpham Brie and Ticklemore.

Four easy ways to support Sharpham Cheese’s Crowdfunding Campaign

• Like, share & engage – Follow @sharphamcheese on Instagram & Facebook, share their posts, and tag fellow cheese lovers to help the campaign reach more people.
• Pledge & join the herd – Every contribution counts! From buying a tote bag to securing lifelong discounts, choose a lot that speaks to your love of cheese at crowdfunder.co.uk.
• Tell your friends – Send your WhatsApp group of food lovers the crowdfunding link and encourage them to get involved.
• Treat your team – There are some fantastic team activities and experiences, so why not share the cheese love and brie amazing!
   

The energy market continues to experience significant volatility, driven by fluctuating wholesale prices, geopolitical uncertainty, and ongoing supply chain pressures. For businesses in the food and drink sector, where energy costs make up a substantial portion of overheads, staying ahead of market movements is more important than ever.
At Enexus Energy, they're seeing a growing divide between businesses that take a proactive approach to energy procurement and those that remain reactive, often resulting in higher costs and increased financial pressure. With prices fluctuating unpredictably, waiting until your contract end date to secure a new deal could leave you exposed to unnecessary risk.

Key Factors Driving Market Volatility

• Global Energy Demand & Supply Chain Disruptions – Ongoing global events continue to impact energy prices, leading to unpredictable cost swings.
• Weather & Renewable Generation – Seasonal demand and fluctuations in renewable output (wind, solar) can lead to unexpected price spikes.
• Regulatory Changes & Taxes – Government policies on energy transition, levies, and subsidies can have a knock-on effect on business energy costs.
  
  How Can You Stay Ahead?
• Secure Your Next Energy Contract Early – Don’t wait until renewal time. Locking in prices when the market is favourable can lead to significant savings.
• Consider Flexible Purchasing Options – Rather than fixing your rates at a single point, explore purchasing strategies that take advantage of market dips.
• Improve Energy Efficiency – Reducing consumption is just as crucial as securing a good rate. Simple changes, such as upgrading equipment and monitoring usage, can lead to long-term savings.
• Get Expert Guidance – The market is complex, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. Working with a specialist energy consultant ensures you’re making informed decisions based on the latest market insights.
   

Next Steps
Enexus Energy work closely with Taste of the West members to provide tailored energy strategies that help mitigate risk and reduce costs. If you’d like a free energy review or advice on your next renewal, get in touch today. The key to protecting your business from energy market uncertainty is being proactive, not reactive.

Book Now = 01253 966964 / [email protected]

Following the successful completion of a freezer fit-out for multiple-time Taste of the West Award winner Proper Cornish, they have entrusted Stancold Food Projects with another key development at their Bodmin facility.

In March 2024, Proper Cornish approached the Stancold Food Projects team to construct a freezer in an unused area of their factory for storing bacon used in their savoury products. During that project’s planning process, Stancold’s Business Development Manager, Andy Connell, gained insight into their future facility plans and discussed how Stancold could assist.

Proper Cornish's next development phase involved reconfiguring part of its facility into a dedicated production area. Working closely with Proper Cornish, Andy helped plan and segment the space to ensure it met their specific production requirements.

‘This project will create a self-contained, start-to-finish production area within their existing facility, covering the production process from raw goods to finished products’, says Andy Connell. ‘This is exactly the kind of support we can offer to Taste of the West food and drink producers looking to expand.’ 

The new layout includes a freezer room, staff changing area, and dedicated production space. As part of the fit-out, Stancold will install various door types and incorporate a mix of panel types to meet Proper Cornish’s specifications.

‘We’re very happy to work with Proper Cornish again,’ says Stancold Project Service Manager Sam Glover. ‘As a South West-based company, we take great pride in supporting other leading businesses in the region to achieve operational excellence. This is why our partnership with Taste of the West is so important to us.’ 

It also gives Stancold’s expert installers the chance to enjoy more of Proper Cornish’s Taste of the West Award-winning pasties while on-site!

As a proud Taste of the West partner, Stancold Food Projects is here to help! Whether you’re expanding your production space, need to create new cold storage space, or require remedial works at your facility, their expert team can support your facility needs.

Check out this video to see how Stancold and Taste of the West are working together: https://youtu.be/ynvjXZhEfcA?si=JGfMDf84bs0OvV3U

Get in touch with the Stancold Food Projects team to find out how they can assist at your site:

💻 Stancold Food Projects 

📧[email protected]

📞 0117 316 7000

A free scheme to support food and drink producers, manufacturers, hospitality and food service businesses is now open for applications. The West of England Food and Drink Support Initiative (FDSI) is ready to help businesses start, grow and thrive, and is a fully funded comprehensive programme delivered by The Food WorksSW in Weston-super-Mare, the only food and drink innovation centre in the West of England.

The scheme run by The Food WorksSW will offer a wealth of one-to-one technical and business guidance, along with themed events, workshops and advice on food certification and getting retail-ready. Start-up, micro, small and medium-sized food and drink producers, hospitality and food service businesses based in Bath, Bristol, North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire can apply at www.foodworks-sw.co.uk/westofengland. Businesses outside of these areas can still access support through The Food Works’ commercial technical programme and hire the product development kitchens at affordable rates.

Under the programme, which is funded by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority and North Somerset council, Food WorksSW will give support in a range of areas. These include food safety plans for HACCP, food certification advice including SALSA, product shelf life, nutritional and labelling information, recipe development and product scale up. In addition, there will be kitchen and product development guidance where various kitchen locations will be available across the West of England to businesses, along with up to two days kitchen hire and product development support from The Food WorksSW.

Simon Gregory, Director at Food WorksSW said, “We are here to help businesses thrive and are delighted to be able to work with the Councils and their business support partners to deliver this programme of focused activity around food and drink. We hope people will apply for this exciting scheme offering sizeable support at no cost to a business. The specialist team at Food Works has a wealth of industry experience and are ready to guide businesses, whatever their size, through technical and development issues.”

The centre has also recently announced its first ever partnership opportunity that will give businesses the chance to support the team, provide advice and guidance to both existing and emerging food and drink brands, and become an integral part of the country’s food, drink and hospitality scene. To find out more about its partnership opportunities, please visit www.foodworks-sw.co.uk/workingwithus. 

To apply go to www.foodworks-sw.co.uk/westofengland. For more information, call the Food WorksSW team on 01934 287710 or email [email protected].

Surface Systems has been established in Totnes for over 25 years and during that time, have built up a diverse portfolio of loyal clients. Working across the whole of the South West, we have an unrivalled level of knowledge and expertise in industrial and commercial resin flooring installation, specifying tailor-made flooring systems that will undoubtedly improve the high standards of your facilities. 

We understand the importance of complying with industry hygiene standards and regulations and creating a safe and visually pleasing environment for both employees and customers alike. 

Recently, we had the pleasure of working for a popular local meat producer who came to us with a requirement for a hard-wearing, easy to clean, hygienic and seamless floor in the new extension of their fridge area and existing building.  After specifying a PU screed as the appropriate resin flooring system for them, our team of floor layers had the job completed (and cured) within 5 days.

Whether its repairs and maintenance, new drainage, line markings or a complete replacement resin floor to your new or your existing premises, our technical team offers an initial consultation, no-obligation site survey and budget quotation.

Our installation team work around the clock, 7 days a week to minimise disruption to your operation, resulting in a high-quality, long-lasting resin floor perfectly suited to your business needs.

If you have any questions about the resin flooring or you have a flooring project you’d like to discuss, get in touch with us today on 01803 868680 or email [email protected].

Bays Brewery in Paignton are kickstarting the New Year with the feel-good factor following the news that its 2024 limited-edition ‘Charity Brews’ have raised £4,861 for four deserving Devon charities.

The family-run brewery raised the amount with the help of thirsty beer fans from across Devon who were only too willing to raise a toast to a great cause with a pint of Bays’ big-hearted brews.

The first of its charity ales hit shelves back in February last year when the brewery joined forces with the Ashburton division of Dartmoor Search & Rescue Team to launch ‘Tracker Ale’.

Bays pledged 5% of every pint and bottle sold to help fund the replacement of the team’s oldest Land Rover for future rescue missions in Torbay, Dartmoor and East Devon, raising £1,068.

Spring then saw Bays Brewery partner up with Paignton Zoo for a charity brew called ‘Funky Monkey’, which celebrated plans for ‘Hamadryas Hill’, a new home for its troop of baboons

The limited-edition beer raised £1,400 and was one of a long line-up of ‘animal’ ales made in partnership with the visitor attraction, bringing its total amount raised to date to £28,500.

For its third charity beer, the brewery took to the skies by teaming up with Devon Air Ambulance for a high-flying collaboration called ‘Chopper Ale’ – a gorgeous golden ale launched for Summer.

The charity beer proved a hit among those keen to help keep its air ambulances flying and fleet of critical care cars responding during the busy season, raising a grand total of £1,350.

Completing the charity line-up in November was ‘Jingle Ale’, a ho-ho hoppy bitter aimed at spreading cheer with 5% of proceeds supporting Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW).

Providing hospice care for children and their families across the South West living with life-limiting illnesses, the final charity brew of 2024 wrapped up the year in true festive style raising £1,043.

Director of Bays Brewery, Peter Salmon, said: “With many local charities facing unprecedented demand alongside inadequate funding, we are pleased to be able to play a small part by helping raise much-needed funds for four incredible worthy causes.”

“A huge heartfelt thanks to our customers, local pubs, and retailers who supported our charity brews in 2024. This collective effort highlights the power of community and the role businesses can play in driving positive change.”

Bays Brewery will be saying ‘cheers’ once again in 2025 with four brand-new charity brews, all of which will see 5% of proceeds from every pint and bottle sold donated to top Devon charities.

The Stancold Food Projects team recently completed a freezer fit-out for Proper Cornish, a renowned South West food production company and Taste of the West award winner. Since its founding in 1988, Proper Cornish has earned widespread acclaim, winning multiple awards - including Taste of the West Awards, British Pie Awards, and World Pasty Championships - for their celebrated Cornish pasties and other savoury delights.

Proper Cornish reached out to Stancold in March to help expand the frozen storage capacity at their Bodmin production facility. This need arose after securing a new contract with a nationwide distributor, requiring them to scale up both production and storage capabilities.

A section of their facility was initially planned to be a freezer space but left fallow—until now. Stancold Food Projects was tasked with transforming the space into a fully operational freezer, ideal for storing bacon destined for their delicious pastry goods.

Always eager to assist Taste of the West award winners in any way that they can, Stancold were excited to work with Proper Cornish on this project!

The process started with a site visit by Stancold’s Food Project Specialist, Andy Connell. During the site visit, Andy was able to better understand not only site logistics but to make an innovative suggestion to bring down the overall cost of the project for Proper Cornish. 

The original project plans called for whitewall to be fitted around the building’s columns. Fitting small sections of whitewall around the columns raised the cost of the project while only adding a handful of additional storage capacity. Andy suggested fitting the whitewall straight across the columns. The slight reduction in usable space had no impact on Proper Cornish’s operations due to the size and shape of objects they were storing but significantly lowered the project’s overall cost.

‘Fitting the whitewall across the columns rather than around them is a prime example of a value-engineered solution,’ says Andy, ‘it lowered the project's overall cost without sacrificing what Proper Cornish looked to achieve with the space.’ 

Over the course of seven total days on-site, Stancold constructed the space into a suitable freezer environment, complete with Kingspan Quadcore panels for the walls and ceiling, a strip curtain, and an insulated concrete floor with a modular heater mat to match the floor level of the existing facility.

Stancold Food Projects enjoyed the opportunity to work with the fantastic team at Proper Cornish and further support the Taste of the West community. 

As an added perk, Stancold’s expert installers were treated to Proper Cornish’s delicious pasties each day on-site—though it’s a wonder they didn’t try to extend the project just for more!

Get in touch with the Stancold Food Projects team to learn more about how they can assist at your facility:

Visit website
📞 0117 316 7000
📧 [email protected]

As the nights draw in and the craziness of the festive season is now upon us, Five Rivers Fostering would like to raise awareness of Christmas as a foster carer and how to make a foster child feel welcome.
They spoke to foster carers to ask about experiences of Christmas...
"One of my friends fostered a young lad and asked him if they could write a Christmas list together ready for Christmas. He asked them what they meant. They explained that at Christmas time, children write down what they might like to get for Christmas. He told them, 'Last year, Mum forgot it was Christmas, so I got a pound and a Pot Noodle'."
Viv, Foster Carer.

Now that lad can enjoy Christmas by being part of a foster family and totally spoilt by lovely food and lovely presents.

Could you think about starting your fostering journey this Christmas?
Well first let's bust some myths you might have heard about fostering…
Just like their foster children, the foster carers at Five Rivers are individuals who come from all different backgrounds and are all different types of people.

• You don’t have to be married, you can be in a civil partnership or you can be single
• You can be a foster carer and have a job, including being a farmer!
• You don’t have to own your own home
• You don’t have to be a parent
• You don’t have to do it full time
• And of course ... you get paid for fostering!

 
We are being asked to look after some very special, vulnerable young people and you need to be rewarded financially for doing this amazing job. You will be part of a professional team and be treated as such with financial reward and excellent training.
Some experience of children is necessary but this could be through work or through family or friends.
Most of all, foster carers need to have room in their heart and room in their home to bring a child or children into their lives and offer them love and stability.
If you're ready to explore how fostering can work for you and your family, Five Rivers are here to help.

Have an informal chat with their friendly team, call 0333 0603 962 or visit www.five-rivers.org/fostering to see the amazing work they do.