Food champion Taste of the West collapses

South West food and drink champion Taste of the West has gone into administration.

Bristol-based SWBR has been appointed as administrators for the Exeter-based company which was founded in 1991.

Taste of the West had more than 1,000 paying members across Devon, Cornwall, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset, and Wiltshire.

A new food and drinks group calling itself a "consortium of people who care" said it was "seeking early dialogue" with administrators to explore the possibility of creating a new organisation to continue the company's work.

Members of Taste of the West included food and drink producers, distributors, restaurants, cafes, pubs, hotels and farm shops.

Its mission was to "champion food and drink producers in the West Country, as well as all the places that serve and sell them".

The organisation was also widely known for its popular annual awards scheme.

The food and drinks industry is worth millions of pounds to the South West economy.

According to economic partnership Great South West the region's food and drink sector generates more than £7bn a year and supports more than 119,000 jobs.

Charles Baughan, managing director of Westaways Sausages in Newton Abbot, described the demise of Taste of the West as a "very sad time" for the industry, but also an "opportunity" to expand its work.

"Taste of the West has been the backbone of what we've done since we started in 1998," he said.

"They've been there for advice and ideas right from the get-go."

Mr Baughan said he and a group of industry professionals were looking to the future, despite the setback.

"We've formed a group, a consortium of people who care," he said.

"We believe there's something here that needs to be recognised, promoted, and encouraged.

"We want to celebrate what people are achieving, whether they're in cow sheds, dairies, or pressing cider, and bring them on to a wider stage."

He also highlighted the West Country's contribution to the UK's food landscape.

"It's a special place, diverse, with lush valleys, fantastic beaches, and an oceanic climate," he said.

"It's the second windiest area in the UK and gets some of the most sunshine, making it ideal for clean energy and sustainable food production."

SWBR has been approached for comment.

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