Food Drink Devon Shines a Light on County's Food and Drink to a National Audience

(As a proud Plymothian, or Janner, my wife vigorously approves of this message!)

Championing quality, sustainability and provenance, Food Drink Devon is shining a light on the county's food and drink to a nationwide audience with events at the Houses of Parliament and the QEll Centre over the coming month. 

At these events, the ongoing innovation, drive and enterprise within the entire region of Devon will be showcased. There will be a selection of producers on display, such as Luscombe Drinks, Hattiers Rum, Salcombe Gin and Sharpham wines from Sandridge Barton, plus leading hospitality businesses, like Boringdon Hall, Saunton Sands Hotel, Winslade Manor and The View restaurant which is at the new Courtyard by Marriott Sandy Park Hotel. 

This incredibly active and vibrant organisation, which is going from strength-to-strength, has now reached a record 350 members and has grown its team with a new membership development manager, Kate Rippin.

It has a host of networking events, workshops and trade and consumer shows planned, plus its highly regarded awards which are currently open for entries. The recent The Source trade show, at which Food Drink Devon had an important presence, reflected the energy within the food and drink sector in the region. 

The forthcoming Toby's Garden Festival, 28th and 29th April, at Powderham Castle will have a tempting selection of local food and drink all provided by Food Drink Devon members. 

Greg Parsons, who is the proactive chair of Food Drink Devon, says: “It's exciting to be hosting a 'Taste of Devon' event with Anthony Mangnall MP in the House of Commons at the Palace of Westminster in March to showcase the best of Devon's food and drink industry to an influential audience. 

"In addition, Food Drink Devon will also be at the International Media Marketplace (IMM) at the QEII Centre where hundreds of travel journalists attend to see highlights from all over the world.  Last year Devon was named as one of the 'planet's most unmissable tourist destinations' in globally read Time magazine following the IMM."

Greg continues to say: “Devon is home to a flourishing food and drink sector with more than its fair share of award-winning producers and hospitality businesses.  Lush pasture, high moorland and miles of coast yield delicious meat and dairy, abundant seafood and Michelin stars, but Devon also has bright, new start-ups and exciting foodie entrepreneurs who merit a wider audience.” 

Other news is that Food Drink Devon has transferred to a Community Interest Company.  While always a not-for-profit organisation, this legal structure means the company can apply for additional funding and is built from the ground up to serve and benefit its community,  who are members of Food Drink Devon.  

Whereas before Food Drink Devon needed to operate like a business, it now has the freedom to operate in a more philanthropic way, working with service providers who better match its requirements and bringing more benefit to its members.  

Also, Food Drink Devon has changed its banking to Triodos. Which is an ethical bank committed to the future, Triodos is a world leader in sustainable banking so again matches the ethos behind the membership organisation. 

Food Drink Devon is committed to increasing the county's profile, both nationally and internationally and represents a membership of Devon's leading food and drink producers, retailers, hospitality venues and related businesses dedicated to serving up the best produce from the county.  With a focus on quality, sustainability and provenance, Food Drink Devon's aim is to support and promote their members and raise Devon's culinary profile as a whole.  Look out for the green heart logo which is carried by over 350 producers and businesses across Devon.  

For more information on Food Drink Devon visit www.fooddrinkdevon.co.uk or follow @FoodDrinkDevon on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.