Funded support is currently available to new and existing food and drink businesses - funded by the West of England Councils, West of England Combined Authority and North Somerset Council and being provided by the Future Food Partnership CIC through The Food WorksSW.
The West of England Food and Drink Support Scheme (WoEFDSI) is open to food producers, manufacturers, hospitality and food service businesses based in the area to help with technical and food development challenges faced by the businesses
The support can be delivered remotely or onsite depending on your business needs.
Wider business advice will be accessible through linked partner organisations for anything beyond food specific matters, including start up advice.
Please read below for information on the types of services that can be provided.
West of England
Food and Drink Support Initiative
Eligibility criteria:
This scheme is open to start ups, micro and small and medium sized enterprises.
Businesses based in the Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire areas (as shown in map).
Support available
-
Support to develop a product in a development kitchen
Hands on support from our team while developing your products.
Food safety plans for HACCP
Shelf life advice
Nutritional and labelling advice
Equipment and process layout advice
Costing reviews
Recipe development and reformulation
Product scale up
-
Help and guidance to set up suitable systems to meet certification requirements.
SALSA (Safe And Local Supplier Approval) this certification will help you to get listings in larger wholesalers and retailers.
-
Various topics will be online or in person to maximise networking and information opportunities.
A particular area that will be covered will be preparing for and meeting buyers.
Please call to if you’d like more information or to discuss the support available
Support we have delivered…
Technical support
HACCP audit, traceability audit and full gap analysis of the food safety systems for a local beverage manufacturer. To help prepare them for their SALSA audit scheduled for mid-February.
Facility and HACCP audit, with follow up recommendations to comply with the BRC standard. On-going work on supporting them with compliance, with the aim for them to achieve BRC certification.
Supporting a local Coffee House with the introduction of Safer Food Better Business principles, parallel to the start of them preparing food in house.
New Product Development support
Working with Chilli Sauce Business in Bristol to change their packaging to a more environmentally friendly and cost-effective option.
Helping another sauce producer in Bristol to increase the shelf life of their product.
Supporting a Non-alcoholic drinks producer in Weston-super-Mare to develop and increase production of their tonic.
Helping a North Somerset business to develop new products specifically for customers with bowl issues like Crohn's Disease.
