Taste of the West has launched a new membership programme aimed at giving South West food and drink businesses more practical support, one year after the organisation was rescued and relaunched as a Community Interest Company.
The regional food group collapsed before being re-established in 2025 under a volunteer board of industry figures. Its directors say the first year has been spent rebuilding the organisation and developing a broader offer for producers, retailers and hospitality businesses.
It is the UK’s largest independent regional food group, working across Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Wiltshire and The Channel Islands. The new structure introduces three membership levels – Connect, Transform and Accelerate – designed to provide increasing levels of business support.
Alongside visibility, networking and discounted services, higher-tier members will be offered access to an online training portal, environmental performance software, regulatory advice through Primary Authority and a food safety helpline. The top level will also include a mentoring scheme matching businesses with industry specialists.
Taste of the West has retained its long-running food and drink awards, but says the aim now is to give businesses more help after winning recognition, rather than operating primarily as an awards programme.
Charles Baughan, Taste of the West’s spokesperson and sustainability lead, said the organisation wanted to use industry experience to help businesses improve productivity and create better-paid jobs.
‘The South West food and drink sector is a multi-billion-pound industry, significant job creator and cornerstone of the local economy,’ he said.
The CIC is being run by five volunteer directors from the food and drink sector, with founding support from businesses including Yeo Valley and Wyke Farms.
For Dorset producers and hospitality businesses, the relaunch adds another source of regional support at a time when many smaller operators are facing rising costs, recruitment pressures and tighter margins.
tasteofthewest.co.uk
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