50 Food stars celebrated at DEFRA HQ

The entrepreneurs were invited to attend the event and training session at DEFRA headquarters yesterday (February 26). The fab 50 – ranging from fiery Scotch bonnet pepper sauce makers in Scotland to chocolatiers using Indian spices in London – were recognised for their rapid growth, high potential and contribution to local jobs and the economy.

Secretary of state Liz Truss said the businesses present revealed the revival of UK food and drink, as a new generation of entrepreneurs emerged to contribute to the record £103bn generated by the food chain last year.

Truss told FoodManufacture.co.uk at the event: “It [the event] was the first of its kind, bringing these companies in to DEFRA and celebrating the industry. What I want it to be about is the industry working together to promote British food and farming.”

A short clip of the video interview appears towards the end of this article, and the full interview will be available next week.

Justin King wowed the group

The event also incorporated workshops to boost the skills of the entrepreneurs in key areas. Richard Clothier, md of cheese producer Wyke Farms and former Food Manufacture Personality of the Year, ran a workshop on social media skills. And Justin King, former ceo of Sainsbury wowed the group with his list of key things food and drink entrepreneurs should know.

The Food Stars initiative was part of a wider government plan to inspire entrepreneurial activity across the UK as part of our long-term economic plan.

“Now is the time to celebrate [food and drink entrepreneurs’] success, which is helping grow our economy,” said Truss. “That is why we’ve created Food stars to recognise the bright innovators of today and support them to become the major players of tomorrow.”

Exchequer secretary to the Treasury, Priti Patel, praised the scale of the food industry’s contribution to the economy: “Food and farming remains the biggest manufacturing sector in Britain, employing one in eight people. There is no better time to join the growing number of innovators in food and drink – in 2013 entrepreneurs set up 30,000 new food and drink businesses generating thousands of jobs in the sector.”

‘Generating thousands of jobs’

The 50 Food Stars will receive continued support from the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) and Cranfield University over the next year.

FDF interim director general Jim Moseley said: “Food and drink manufacturing is a great British success story and we’re delighted to support DEFRA’s Food Stars initiative which recognises the important contribution businesses in our industry make to the UK economy. 

“Small enterprises are driving growth and innovation but can lack the resources to keep up to speed with industry developments or the technical or regulatory resources required to ensure a level playing field. We hope that our continued support of free access to our tailored information service and advice will help these outstanding food and drink businesses boost growth even further.”

Watch out next week for our video interview with Truss on what is holding back small-scale firms and a video vox pop with producers at the event.

Meanwhile, below is some producer reaction to the day and the full list of the 50 Food Star firms.

• Additional reporting by Laurence Gibbons.

What they said about the event:

Charles Baughan, md, Westaway Sausages:  “Today's been quite inspirational for us. We've had some fantastic speakers, some great people to meet – other food producers from the UK – and, of course, some very valuable contact with buyers.”

Allison Abernethy, md, Abernethy Butter: “It's been really great to meet other small producers and network with them and hear some really interesting workshops upstairs. Justin King was really down-to-earth and made things seem a bit more possible.”

Paul Withington, director, The Coconut Kitchen: “Networking and speaking to other producers has been the biggest achievement. Definitely learning from some of the masters of the industry – Justin King’s Q&A and speech were really informative – and listening to Paul [Lindley] from Ella’s Kitchen. He’s probably one of icons of the industry.”

Katie McDermott, co-founder, Not Dogs: “We’ve been going for a year, so it’s so great to get the insight from people that have been doing this for four, five to 20 years. To have DEFRA’s support behind us as we move in to our next stage of growth is absolutely invaluable.”

Martin Berkeley, Pilton Cider: “It’s been a fantastic inspiration to come here and talk to producers ... the talks this morning were very inspiring to hear from people that have been successful in the past.”

Lynne Mallinson, md, Country Puddings: “This event has opened up so many avenues of possibility really. From major retailers to food wholesalers, learning from other people’s growth and challenges they’ve faced and how they’ve overcome those, we can learn a lot form the guest speakers and contacts here.”

DEFRA’s 50 Food Stars

1. Abernethy Butter
2. The Artisan Kitchen
3. Bath Soft Cheese
4. Belvoir Fruit Farms
5. Beer52
6. Buxton Pudding Company
7. Camel Valley
8. Castleton Farm Shop
9. Chapel Down
10. Coconut Kitchen
11. Country Puddings
12. Cuddybridge Apple Juice
13. Duke of Delhi
14. Friary Liqueurs
15. Goodnesse
16. Halen Môn Anglesey Sea Salt
17. Heck Food
18. Hepworth & Company Brewers
19. Highland Chocolatier
20. Holy Cow!
21. Jealous Sweets
22. J.Lawrie & Sons ‘Jaffys’
23. Jeffry’s Mallaig Kippers
24. Joe and Seph’s Popcorn
25. Killer Tomato
26. Moorish
27. Mackie’s at Taypack
28. Nom Foods
29. Norfolk Saffron
30. The Norfolk Sloe Company
31. Not Dogs
32. Ooft Hot Sauce
33. Pact Coffee
34. The Patchwork Traditional Food Company
35. Pilton Cider
36. Rebel Kitchen
37. Redhill Farm
38. Ridgeview Wines
39. Rubies in the Rubble
40. Sandows
41. Savse Smoothies
42. Scarlett and Mustard
43. Sweet Virtues
44. Sweetpea Pantry
45. Three Little Pigs
46. Uig Lodge Smoked Salmon
47. Warner Edwards
48. Westaway Sausages
49. Westerham Brewery
50. Wold Top Brewery
51. Womersley Fruit and Herb Vinegars
52. Yorkshire Provender
53. Yorvale