Taste of the West is continuously evolving as a regional food and drink business community. We regularly provide business advice, sometimes generic and strategic, and sometimes specific depending on the nature of the enquiry. We currently have a number of affiliate businesses on our books who provide specific advice back to the membership on topics such as legal issues, tax issues, technical challenges, as well as marketing and PR advice.

Chris Milton (ex Sales Director at Thatchers Cider) and John Sheaves (CEO at Taste of the West) have been working on a project to enhance the business advice offering. They are well aware that there are a number of well founded and structured businesses in the region that have been run by very experienced individuals who collectively have a vast amount of expertise to offer the rest of the sector.

They have collected these individuals together on an initial zero fee basis and called them the ‘Flying NEDs' (Non Executive Directors). The idea is that these experts, with their wealth of experience, can offer ‘arms length’ advice on strategy, how to overcome certain business challenges and how to develop growth strategies etc.

Having corralled these experts together, they now want to trial this service with a select number of businesses. So they're now looking for businesses who would be willing to be part of this initial trial.

If you are interested, please contact John so that he can make the necessary arrangements. You'll find his contact details below. This offer is open to all sizes of businesses, and they are equally keen to see some who have some experience of their own and who have been trading for some years.

Contact John Sheaves at Taste of the West: [email protected] or call 07974 660804

Stancold’s Food Projects division recently secured a whitewall and cold store installation project for a Cornwall-based Taste of the West member, Proper Cornish, which produces baked savoury goods.

Proper Cornish finalised a new production contract with a nationwide distributor, so it is necessary for them to upgrade their facility to ensure that they can efficiently reach the required levels of production. 

The team at Proper Cornish contacted Stancold in April to create a cold store for their bacon products in an unfinished part of their factory. As this space is currently used for storage, part of it has existing whitewalls that our team can incorporate into the design.  

The preparation for this project involved an extensive site visit by Stancold’s Food Projects Specialist Andy Connell to fully understand the producer’s needs and what they are trying to achieve with the new space in the context of their existing operations. 

During the site visit, Andy was able to identify a way to help the client not only help lower the overall cost of the project but to use the existing space more efficiently. This involved changing the plans to build a straight wall across the existing steel columns rather than fitting the whitewall around them. The client did not need the small amount of extra space that fitting around the columns would provide, so they happily took Stancold’s recommendation to design the wall to go straight across, lowering the cost and time of the installation. 

"That’s one of the benefits of doing a site visit,’ says Andy, ‘Seeing the space and the client’s overall facility in person allows Stancold to identify ways we can value-engineer a project to better suit both their budget and what they are looking to achieve."

For any client or potential client that approaches Stancold to help them achieve their food or drink facility’s goals, their Food Projects team will always visit the site whenever possible so that they can confidently determine the best solution to fit their processes and the changes the client is striving to make. 

This is especially true for Taste of the West members as Stancold are right on their doorstep and very keen to support the vibrant and always-expanding Southwest food and drink-producing community.

"The Food Projects team at Stancold couldn’t be happier for the opportunity to help a Taste of the West member expand capacity,’ says Andy. ‘We hope this will be the beginning of a long-lasting mutually beneficial relationship and are confident that this project will set the highest standard for how we can help other Taste of the West members achieve operational excellence."

Food service businesses across the South West are facing a growing threat of wasted food that’s harming their profits and the planet, but SUEZ recycling and recovery UK, a resources and waste management company, is poised to celebrate the achievements and advancement in sustainable practices in the region.

As the sponsor of Taste of the West's South West Sustainability Award 2024, SUEZ would like to recognise and celebrate sustainability pioneers and leaders operating in the South West's food and drink industry. 

For the last 30 years, SUEZ has been helping local businesses of all sizes to become more sustainable. The approach rooted in SUEZ’s operations is referred to as the triple bottom line, and it is a more comprehensive way of measuring and managing any organisation’s performance. As a triple bottom line business SUEZ seeks to balance people, planet and profit to make better-informed decisions about social, environmental and economic matters – the three dimensions of sustainability.

Independent regional food groups, like Taste of the West, which promote and support fantastic food and drink from the local suppliers, offer a great opportunity for organisations like SUEZ to be part of this network and using awards as a way of recognising best practice and huge efforts made by businesses in the South West.

The awards ceremony is also a great opportunity for networking with likeminded businesses. SUEZ is offering a wide range of solutions that foster sustainable development, from waste prevention, innovation and compliance with changing legislation to sustainable procurement and management of the value chain.

The changing legislative landscape, that will bring mandatory separate food waste collections as soon as Spring 2025, presents a huge opportunity for any business. Right now is the best time to rethink your food waste situation, starting with identifying how much food waste is produced, where it is produced, and what simple interventions might help to reduce and manage it more effectively. 

And this is where experts from SUEZ can add value. The company’s aim is to help maximise the value of services they deliver to businesses in the region. From building sustainable strategies and reducing customers environmental impact to helping them of the journey towards net zero.

Sustainable food waste management practices can generate social value and foster positive change in the community while reducing and ultimately eliminating carbon emissions.

Be sure to say hello to the SUEZ team who will happily discuss with you any of your recycling and waste management needs, no matter how big or small they are. Struggling with a difficult waste stream? SUEZ can help you with that too, as the local team is well versed in dealing with complex situations needing sustainable and tailor-made solutions.

SUEZ extends a promotional offer to all members of Taste of the West community. As a member, you can benefit from 20% off your first month’s waste bill during 2024. To take advantage of this discount, please contact the local team on 0800 542 3548 quoting Taste of the West 24 as a promotional code.

The South West Sustainability Award for 2024 is now open for entries and FREE for all businesses in the South West to enter.

To find out more about the judging criteria, and to enter your business, please visit our website.  

The UK agricultural sector faces considerable challenges in the post-Brexit environment with farmers and landowners increasingly seeking to diversify into new crops and identify more sustainable and innovative methods of production.

A great example of this diversification and adjustment to new environmental and economic conditions is viticulture, which is now the UK’s fastest growing agricultural industry.

Perhaps the most well-known vineyards in England are in the south-east, but Devon and Dorset are also already established wine-production areas, and climate change is bringing new opportunities in Somerset and Cornwall, as well as further afield. Climate change is also increasingly allowing winemakers in the UK to grow popular grape varieties which were previously difficult or impossible to cultivate, such as Pinot Noir and Chardonnay (both consistently in the top 10 most popular wine grape varieties).

Current UK wine production
The Industry Report 2022-2023 produced by WineGB (the national association for the English and Welsh wine industry) highlights that there are now over 900 vineyards in the UK, with 12.2 million bottles of wine produced in in 2022. On the basis of figures obtained from their Industry Survey, WineGB project that production is expected to reach between 25 million and 29 million bottles by 2032. 

According to Strutt & Parker's Summer 2023 Viticulture Report, the price of land suitable for vines continues to increase and is now typically between £16,000 to £20,000 per acre. Where a buyer is looking for a small plot of 10-12 acres (the minimum size required to establish a vineyard as a viable business), then prices can rise as high as £25,000 per acre, while established vineyards can sell for more than £35,000 per planted acre.

Fancy your own vineyard?
Setting up your own vineyard will require significant investment, and newly planted vines will take 5 years to reach full productivity. There is a lot to think about:

• Obtaining planning permission for your vineyard: – If land is currently in agricultural use, planning permission is not required to cultivate the land to plant and grow grapes. However, if operational development is proposed in association, i.e. to process the grapes or if grapes which are grown outside of the land holding are processed onsite, then planning permission may be required.
• The potential for receiving payments under DEFRA's Sustainable Farming Initiative and Farming Innovation Programme.
• The Food Standards Agency's approach to enforcement of the relevant wine regulations.
• Whether you want to produce and process your own grapes or sell to others, procuring winemaking, bottling and storage contracts.
• Opportunities for employment (WineGB survey figures indicate that there are around 2,300 full time employees working in Great Britain's wine industry, with a further 8,300 people employed in part time/seasonal work).
• Tourism, including tours, tasting and events.
• Setting up a registered company, partnership, or joint venture.
• Considering taxes, business rates, insurance and expenses; and
• Succession planning for your enterprise. 

How can Trowers help you?
Whether you are considering buying, selling or leasing land for wine production, or even setting up your own vineyard, our lawyers can help.

We offer:

• Specialist agricultural and rural property lawyers, experienced in dealing with the sale and purchase and leasing of agricultural businesses both a national and regional level.
• Specialist planning lawyers who can provide advice on permitted development rights and assist through the entire planning process including appeals or enforcement matters.
• Advice on company/partnership structures, tax and succession planning.
• Advice on obtaining a premises licence for the sale of alcohol.
• Access to our wider team of experienced employment, tourism and renewable energy lawyers, across the UK and internationally.

For further information please contact: Nicola Janus-Harris or Julia Moon.

Marketing your business to get the sales and enquiries you want has never been harder. Competition is intense, and the way customers buy is changing rapidly.
That means you need to work smarter than ever to stay ahead of the pack, and maximise every opportunity to promote your brand, tell your story and drive revenue into your business.

Daneswood are your partner in marketing communications for the food and drink sectors, making your marketing successful through collaboration, communication, and optimisation.

For many businesses, this starts by taking advantage of a free, personal Website & Search Engine Optimisation review (exclusively available to Taste of the West members) to improve your Google listings and generate the sales and enquiries you want! 

Whether you own a food and drink business or work in sales and marketing, you will be able to help take your company to the next level with these insights.

• It takes under 2 minutes to request a review
• It's completely free
• Get your detailed SEO report, showing you how Google sees your website and the actions you can take to fix any issues
• Receive a personal video, reviewing your website and giving you advice to boost sales conversions
• Zero obligation, you can address any issues yourself, pass the report to your own web designer or contact us for help.

To claim your review visit: https://daneswood.co.uk/web-design-seo-review/

Having a generic website that says who you are and what you do just won’t do in today’s marketplace. You need a website or eCommerce store that elevates your business and takes you ahead of the competition. A website with eye-catching design, that understands your customers and how they intuitively want to use the website, a website that is easy to update, and of course, a website that technically works the way it's supposed to.

Then you need the support of an expert digital marketing team with experience working with food and drink businesses, covering search engine optimisation, Google Ads (PPC), email marketing and social media adverts to generate targeted visitor traffic and the results you desire.

You need your offline marketing to be effective too. Branding, design, and print to help you stand out from the crowd and make a lasting impression. At Daneswood, we help businesses like yours succeed with their marketing communication, so you can grow your business and achieve your goals.
 

The Daneswood Difference
Our proven process consists of:

1. Initial meeting

• Deep dive into your business
• Discuss your marketing plans and budget

2. Strategy and Quotation

• Fixed price, transparent proposal
• Agree deliverables, including timescales

3. Implementation

• Dive into the specifics with your dedicated Project Manager
• Create and launch your website and/or marketing campaign

4. Elevate your Results

• Regular tracking, monitoring and reporting
• Ongoing improvements to optimise your outcomes
   

Ready to take your marketing communications to new heights?
Let's start a conversation. Connect with us to stay updated on the latest industry trends, marketing insights, and success stories. Visit our website www.daneswood.co.uk to explore our portfolio and learn more about how Daneswood can be the catalyst for your brand's success.
#Collaboration #Communication # Optimisation

Family-run Bays Brewery in Paignton has once again teamed up with its friends at Paignton Zoo to launch its cheekiest charity brew to date, ‘Funky Monkey’.

Available in bottles, cask and beer boxes, the copper-coloured pale ale is bursting with character thanks to its fruity hoppy notes and citrus twist, with 5% of proceeds going to wildlife conservation.  

‘Funky Monkey’ is the latest in a long line-up of limited-edition ‘animal’ ales brewed in partnership with Paignton Zoo, which combined have raised more than £27,000 for endangered species to date.

The special-edition charity ale celebrates Paignton Zoo’s latest plans for ‘Hamadryas Hill’, a brand-new home for their troop of baboons that will allow visitors to see them inside and out.

Director of Bays Brewery, Peter Salmon, said: “We brewed our very first charity brew with Paignton Zoo back in 2013, and are delighted to be teaming up with one another once again in 2024 with a beer inspired by its cheekiest animal residents.

“Funky Monkey will be available for sale on our online shop and at Paignton Zoo’s Island Restaurant, as well as restaurants and shops across Devon from 6 May 2024, so we urge beer lovers to go bananas and raise a toast to a brilliant animal conservation cause.”

Paignton Zoo Events and Corporate Relationship Manager, Katie White, added: “We are thrilled to be working with Bays again for another zoo-themed guest ale. Our partnership with this local business has proved immensely valuable in raising vital funds for our charitable mission to help halt species decline.”

Last year, Bays teamed up with Paignton Zoo for ‘Wild 100’ - an ale that marked the zoo’s centenary year - a fitting tribute to founder Herbert Whitley, the son of a successful brewer from Greenall Whitley brewery.

Other firm favourites served up by Bays Brewery and Paignton Zoo include ‘Orangutan Ale’, ‘Crocod-ale’ and ‘Trunk Ale’, to name a few, with 5% of all proceeds donated to wildlife conservation.

Throughout 2024, the brewery is also supporting a number of other top Devon charities with three further limited-edition charity beers, each giving something back to the local community. 

The first of its charity brews ‘Tracker Ale’ proved a hit when it went on sale earlier this year, raising much-needed funds for the Ashburton division of the Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team. 

Due to take off in July, ‘Chopper Ale’ will support Devon Air Ambulance, while its popular festive tipple ‘Jingle Ale’ will be available from November in aid of Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW).
 

Did you know that this year it’s Clipper’s 40^th Birthday?

To celebrate they are launching a new DORSET BRANDED ENVELOPE, STRING & TAG tea bag which will be available to order from 1^st July 2024 from your wholesaler.

From 2 chests of tea in a Dorset kitchen to now blending, packing and shipping all their teas from their factory in Beaminster, Dorset - Clipper is the only tea company in Dorset that blends and packs all its products in the heart of the county.

Over the years customers have asked Clipper for a Dorset branded Envelope, String & Tag tea bag, so they are excited to announce this new addition to their foodservice family. In their mission to deliver better tea for everybody the range is market leading for the following reasons:

- Award winning Fairtrade tea at £9.99 for a case of 250, making it one of the best value EST’s on the market;

- Unbleached, Plastic Free and Unbleached tea bags tied with Organic String with fully recyclable envelopes;

- B Corp certified;

- 2024 Great Taste Gold Awarded and Dorset Food & Drink certified;

- Proudly made in the SW in our Dorset factory.

So why not serve this Taste of the West GOLD award-winning product at your establishment and be proud to serve such a delicious and sustainable tea while supporting another local producing business?

If you want to know more about this product and the rest of the range along with Clipper's market leading POS or simply to see which wholesalers will be stocking this new product, please email [email protected] or call 07966 218421.

We are thrilled to be joining Taste of the West's community because we believe it's a sign of great products from great companies; and we know growing your business in these challenging times is tough, so we hope we can help some of you along the way.

You'll see from our profile and website, Frontline specialises in packaging automation for small and medium sized producers; but it's not all about new machinery, as we're equally happy to provide support with packaging design, line layout, first-time automation, waste reduction, increasing output or even just providing general advice.

Our experience in the South West includes working with producers of high-end prepared meals, artisan tea, speciality cheese and high-quality baked goods; and, while some projects involved large capital investment, for others it was just a case of making some small changes to deliver improvements. Regardless of company size or spend, we begin with a thorough assessment of what might be appropriate followed by a detailed proposal, usually including some alternatives for consideration.

What sets us apart from traditional packaging suppliers however is our ability to support all aspects of packaging, not just equipment and that we take full responsibility for delivering whatever it is we recommend - so it's in our interest to offer only what is appropriate.

A recent development is that we've found some producers recognise the need to improve their packaging operations but are unsure where to start. This prompted us to introduce a new service where we carry out an assessment and then provide a report on the possibilities for improvement.

There is a charge for this service, which means we are free to make whatever recommendations are appropriate, even if it means finding someone other than Frontline to help you. The cost is less than you might expect, particularly given the potential benefits, and with over thirty years of experience in the packaging industry on offer, you can be sure to get good quality advice.

And unlike consultants, our advice is backed by our experience in actually delivering on our recommendations.

As our way of introducing Frontline to Taste of the West we are offering two fellow members the opportunity to benefit from this service at no charge and with no commitment other than, if you're happy with what we do for you, you'll tell fellow members how we helped improve your business for nothing more than the cost of a coffee.

All you need to do is send a brief email expressing your interest to [email protected] 
and we'll be in contact. Please bear in mind this offer is on a first-come/first-served basis, so don't delay!

Equally, if you'd like to discuss any other packaging-related matters, please contact us.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Taste of the West member and leading South West producer of traditional ales, Dartmoor Brewery, has taken its next step towards carbon neutral brewing, with a solar energy installation at its Devon brewery premises.
As England’s highest brewery, in the heart of Dartmoor National Park, the Princetown-based operation produces a full range of traditional beers including the famous and original Jail Ale.
The brewery commissioned leading south west renewable energy specialists Clean Earth Energy for the new solar PV installation, which delivers up to 100 kilowatts of clean energy – amounting to nearly 50% of the brewery’s electricity requirement.                          
Brewery MD Ian Cobham commented: “Operating here in the heart of the beautiful Dartmoor National Park, we are acutely aware of our responsibility for keeping our carbon footprint to a minimum. Our new solar installation is an important next step in our path towards carbon neutrality, and harnessing clean solar energy using the latest PV technology will dramatically reduce our use of electricity from the grid.”

In today’s dynamic economic landscape, owner-managed businesses in the UK face many challenges, ranging from economic slowdowns to changing legislation and geopolitical uncertainties.

Bishop Fleming recently surveyed its owner-managed business clients, revealing crucial insights into the key issues affecting these businesses and the sectors in which they operate.

The “Navigating business challenges in a changing landscape” blog series focuses on the top five themes from the survey responses. Bishop Fleming provides in-depth analysis, practical tips, and expert advice through the series to help these decision-makers overcome their challenges.

In this series, the first focus is on the impact of last year’s socio-economic and geopolitical events on owner-managed businesses. 
 
Economic Uncertainties and Geopolitical Factors
Owner-managed businesses are feeling the impact of economic slowdowns and geopolitical tensions, casting shadows of uncertainty over decision-making processes. The shifting global landscape, including Brexit and geopolitical conflicts, adds complexity to business planning and strategy.

Inflation and Rising Costs
Inflation has been a factor in the economy for the first time since the 1970s. This has led to increased costs across various sectors.
From raw materials to fuel costs, businesses grapple with general cost-of-living issues, eroding profitability and challenging financial sustainability.
The good news is that inflation fell to 3.2% in March 2024 from a 40-year high of 11.1% in October 2022. However, gas and oil prices may creep up again due to ongoing global conflicts.
Bank interest rates have risen to a current high of 5.25%, but there is an expectation that they will start to fall again later this year. Delaying interest rate cuts will weaken the economy, according to economists.

Legislative Changes
The ever-evolving regulatory environment presents another hurdle for owner-managed businesses. Changing legislation requires continuous adaptation, impacting business planning and resource allocation. The legislative changes to the operation of the R&D Tax Credit scheme, for example, will reduce the tax benefit available, and the current increased level of scrutiny from HMRC into claims is causing significant administrative burden for those businesses who have made legitimate claims under the scheme.

Weak Demand and Financial Market Challenges
Weak demand and political uncertainties create an unfavourable headwind for businesses operating in various industries.
With a general election to be held later this year, business owners will be concerned about the possible impact on their sectors from new regulations on a change of government.

Fiscal targets
Fiscal targets set by the government can constrain economic growth, according to the Institute for Public Policy Research. While such targets can reduce the possibility of bad decision-making, think tanks also consider that they are stopping the making of good ones, particularly in investment policy.

Client Sector Analysis

Understanding the specific challenges faced by different sectors provides valuable insights into the broader economic landscape:
•    Construction, Property, and Real Estate: Concerns about consumer confidence, rising costs, and economic slowdowns are prevalent. Issues such as delays in planning applications and weak demand impact customer orders.
•    Professional Services: Key challenges include recruitment difficulties, skill shortages, and global events affecting investor confidence. Rising costs and falling demand add to the complexity.
•    Retail: The cost-of-living crisis and inflation are squeezing profitability, while challenges like Brexit and recruitment further compound the situation.
•    Healthcare: Rising costs, particularly in wages, and the need to manage expenses are top concerns, alongside staff retention and retirement planning.
•    Tourism & Leisure: Economic uncertainties, reduced bookings, and higher operational costs are among the challenges businesses face in this sector.
•    Manufacturing: Fluctuating costs, lower demand, and Brexit-related issues impact margins and business expansion plans.
•    Food & Drink: Rising energy costs and inflation, coupled with Brexit impacts, pose challenges to profitability and product availability.
•    Technology, Media and Telecommunications: Inflationary pressures and difficulties in attracting new business are key challenges, compounded by rising energy prices and global conflicts.

Conclusion
Owner-managed businesses in the UK are navigating a complex economic landscape marked by uncertainties and challenges across various sectors.
As they adapt to changing market conditions and regulatory frameworks, strategic resilience and agility will be crucial for sustaining growth and profitability.
The economy is showing signs of recovery, and economists predict that the improved performance of the service sector, coupled with falling inflation, will help boost the economic landscape.
The 2024 Spring Budget contained some help for business owners, notably the rise in the VAT threshold and the cut in National Insurance contributions, but more help is needed with other business costs. The permanent Full Expensing relief for corporation tax will be good news for some companies looking to invest in new plants and machinery.

Owner-managed business series
This is an ongoing series. Check out Bishop Fleming’s other articles in the series:
•    Adapting business operations
•    Adapting to cost pressures
•    Adapting to workforce challenges
•    Adapting to global and external factors

Get in touch:
To find out how Bishop Fleming can help you or your owner-managed business, explore their Owner Managed Business page