This newsletter provides an update on recent and planned activities through The Food WorksSW. Please pass onto colleagues and if there are any particular topics or information you would like included in future updates, please let the centre team know.
August at The FoodWorksSW
Whilst it is a challenging time for a lot of businesses in the current economic climate we're living in, which is not helped by the cost of living crisis, we are pleased to be sharing some good news stories as well.
As we approach the end of our CRF programme, we look back on some of the events we've held over the last few months.
We have supported over 30 businesses with the free support provided through the Accelerate programme. Highlights include a bakery workshop, chocolate workshop, SALSA seminar, food photography practical session and food trends seminar.
Thank you to all the speakers and businesses involved, it's been great meeting so many of you. There are still a few events remaining, don't miss your chance to attend these free sessions!
Lots of our customers have been celebrating great taste awards this month! A few of our customers to mention are Bo Bom Gelato with 2 of their products, Ginger and Fior di Caffè Stracciato. Drinks Kitchen were awarded gold stars for all 3 of their non-alcoholic aperitif range. Somerset Charcuterie's Red Wine & Draycott Blue Salami Pokers, Somerset Pancetta and Free Range Duck Pancetta were all awarded too. Trethowan Brothers delicious cheeses Gorwydd Caerphilly and Pitchfork Cheddar also picked up some gold stars!
We are part of a business support programme funded by the UK Government’s Community Renewal Fund* providing a range of food and drink specific events that are open to all North Somerset and South West** food and drink businesses.
The Food and Drink Forum element of the programme includes a series of events including seminars and practical workshops delivered at the Food Works on a range of industry relevant topics. There is also an intensive technical support offer to 15 North Somerset food and drink producers - please get in touch for more information on this.
Please see below for our events coming up over the next month.
1-1 Sessions
Business Development
Thursday 25th August
Get a free 30min call with Louise Pengilley to give an outside view looking in perspective to a problem(s) potential businesses are having, with some actionable steps they can take to help them progress in their business structure/ growth.
Staff Development and Apprenticeships Monday 5th September
This event is hosted by Liz Redwood who will get you thinking about how training and development can help your organisation thrive!
Create an Impact Through Branding and Packaging Tuesday 6th September
This event is hosted by Tim from Tidy Studio who will help you stand out on the shelf with your branding and packaging with a focus on label design.
Food Photography Session Wedneday 7th September 15 lucky customers will have their food or drink products pictured by Barbara from First Avenue Photography. The images will then be yours to keep and will also be displayed around the FoodWorksSW!
Starting Up a Food/Drink Business Monday 12th September
Hosted by the experts at The FoodWorksSW, we will provide those looking to start up a business with the basics required to set up in the industry particularly relating to food safety & regulations to ensure you get your idea of the ground.
Accounting Software and Funding Options
Tuesday 13th September
Advisors from Bishop Fleming will be on hand to discuss general finance and accounting matters, including R&D Tax Credits, accounting software systems along with other topics that are of interest.
*The Community Renewal Fund is a UK Government programme for 2021/22 that aims to support people and communities most in need across the UK to pilot programmes and new approaches to prepare for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. It invests in skills, community and place, local business and supporting people into employment.
**Our series of events are open to food and drink businesses across the South West. Priority is given to those in North Somerset.
Workshops
Selling Into Retail Tuesday 13th September
Opportunity to hear how best to approach and sell through supermarkets, independent retailers including deli’s and wholesalers. Hearing from a buyers view, how to pitch, what to expect when you aiming for a listing. 1-1s available to discuss in more detail with the speakers including Matt Trigg a former Asda and Morrisons buyer and Marcus Carter from the Artisan Food Club.
Building a Website and Growing your Business online Thursday 15th September
Learn about the technical ins and outs of using eCommerce to generate sales. The session will run through the top do’s and don’ts of digital marketing. Attendees will come away with actionable insights and tips from Anna Ewing is Director / Founder at Creative Asset.
Automation for Food & Drink Producers 29th and 30th September*
An opportunity to look at how to automate or improve your processing with equipment that can carry out tasks to free up your staff to do more productive activities. The Bristol Robotics Lab will run a 2 day workshop that will help you look at equipment and software that can be used to improve your processes. *you must be able to attend the full 2 days
Our Dairy has seen a variety of uses over recent months with a number of businesses using the equipment to help with soft drink scale up and development of new plant based drinks. Looking ahead we hope a number of cheese workshops will run through the autumn.
Along with a 500 litre heated mixing tank we have a 2 phase homogeniser, ice cream making facilities and ability to bottle products making it ideal for development, small batch work food samples or if looking to make a decent volume for general sale. All kitchens are approved and technical support is on hand if required. Hire from a day or longer, so get in touch …..
Business Feature
Elan Vitality and Health Limited
John Lane is a co-founder of Elan Vitality and Health Limited, an innovative food supplement brand whose raison d’être is to help people live lively longer.
What does your company create?
“My sister and I started Elan Vitality as a way for people to become more aware of their nutrition and health and to support good health through diet in later life. We’re a science focused food supplement business and our new product is based on a nano-sized particle called glutathione.”
How have FoodWorks’ experts helped your company?
“We’re perhaps not a typical FoodWorks tenant or beneficiary - we’re far from the cooking end. We’ve got 20-plus years of import-export expertise in the food industry, focused more on the movement of bulk products and concentrated juices for the cider industry. Where we needed help with our nano-particle product was with other things such as correct labelling, so that it was legally correct for the UK market. Labelling requirements are different in the USA where this product is currently on sale.”
How did you become aware of Foodworks SW?
“We sought research grants and approached the West of England Combined Academy (WECA) for advice. They provided us with some leads to follow up and one of them brought us to FoodWorks SW. We started with an initial free one-hour consultation with Zoe, the food innovation hub’s New Product Development Manager. This was so useful that we then booked more time with the team.”
What’s next for Elan Vitality?
“We’ve just signed a distribution agreement with a company in America. We’re in the process of making our first order of the product and will be their UK distributor. We’ll then use our website as our key marketing channel. We can be found on www.elanvh.co.uk”.
