The Artisan Food Trail: Competition

Showing posts with label Competition. Show all posts

5 December 2016

A whole host of artisan food and gifts to be won in our '12 Days of Christmas' competition

We're excited to be able to bring back our
'12 Days of Christmas' competition again.

We're very grateful to our producers who are taking part and donating some fantastic prizes which means we have a great selection of food (and a few gifts) to suit all tastes.

This has to be one of our greatest competitions yet with a cache of 32 prizes up for grabs!
Already, hundreds of entries have come in and we expect many more as there are so many wonderful things to be won.
As usual, the competition will run over a 12 day period and entrants can pick their favourites from the list and there'll be a chance of winning one of those selected.

We have a wide range of artisan and handmade food, drink and gift items as well as experiences, training and of course the Christmas turkey.
So what are you waiting for? Head over to The Artisan Food Trail website, get entering and good luck!

Sorry this competition is now closed
Thanks to our members/producers for taking part and offering prizes making this such a spectacular competition:

Blossoms Syrup
Breckland Orchard
Capsicana
Edible Ornamentals
Fudge Kitchen
Great Glen Charcuterie
Hafod Cheese
Hibiscus Lily

J Lawrie & Sons (Jaffy’s)

The Kandula Tea Company

Max Olive Oil
Morton’s Traditional Taste
Needwood Ice Cream
Oakley Grange Farm
Ragini’s Mauritian Curry Powder
Red Cat Partnership Ltd
Susannah’s Sauces
Tg Green Teas
Truffle Hunter
Yare Valley Oils

18 March 2016

Competition time: Win a Yew Tree Alpacas gift voucher worth £35 & an alpaca adventure for two

The Artisan Food Trail has teamed up with Yew Tree Alpacas to give you a chance to win a fantastic prize this Spring. Not only are they offering a £35 gift voucher to spend on anything in their range, they are also offering an evening alpaca adventure visit (weekdays only) for two people between the months of June and August 2016.

Yew Tree Alpacas are a herd of 32 alpacas based in rural Hertfordshire and as well as selling all things alpaca – hand knitted alpaca accessories, yarns and gifts you can also visit the alpacas on one of their alpaca adventures.

Here are some great ideas for your Yew Tree gift voucher, including:
For stylish shopping set a of 3 differently sized (S/M/L) alpaca jute bags with cushioned handles (£12)
Two pairs (treat for you and your partner!) of cushioned sole Walking Socks (£33.00)
The Yew Tree knitting kit with two patterns and three balls of our own super soft 100% alpaca yarn + extra ball (£26.50 + £7.99- £34.49)
Three original design alpaca bone china mugs (£31.50)
A pair of snug hand knitted alpaca gloves and a pair of alpaca day socks (£22+£12.50-£34.50)

This competition has now closed

1 September 2015

Meet the expert: Graham Childs of The Artisan Food Trail

Graham is one of the co-founders of the multi award winning Artisan Food Trail and creative director of design agency, childsdesign and has worked in design and marketing for nearly 30 years. He’s worked with some of the biggest brands around and brings his experiences with them to smaller businesses, helping them to refine their brand offering with limited budgets, create customer visibility online and offline and increasing their sales.

Through the Artisan Food Trail, Graham and his co-founder, partner and wife, Lisa, help promote small artisan food businesses to potential customers, they work with a number of then on their brand development and support through other important business services. Their own multi award winning business started on a budget of less than £50!

For more information about the Pitch to the Experts competition read our article where you will also find the links to submit your pitch to win up to £10,000 worth of help and advice for your food business.

28 August 2015

Meet the expert: Martin Jinks of Roythornes Solicitors

Martin is a partner of Roythornes and a corporate and commercial lawyer with significant experience of both transactional and non-transactional work. As part of Roythornes Food and Drink team he advises food businesses on a wide range of issues from contract negotiations to corporate restructures.

Blending a commercial approach with a detailed knowledge of the law he has a particular knowledge of business structures and helping businesses decide which is the most suited to match their growth plans. This work involves advising on joint ventures, private equity investment and disputes.

As food businesses grow they often need to consider out-sourcing elements of their production or other aspects of manufacture. Martin helps to ensure that the agreements in place protect the food business itself and have the flexibility to adapt to changing market demands.

27 August 2015

Meet the expert: Andrew Watkin of Assynt Corporate Finance Limited

Andrew was made a partner in 1987 and became involved in more special one-off pieces of work for clients including the buying and selling of businesses. He was soon able to appreciate the commercial skills needed to run a practice.

Formed in 2013 Assynt Corporate Finance Limited is a new generation of advisory chartered accountancy practice providing only corporate finance services:

On a sale of a business you want to maximise the value you receive.
On a purchase of a business you want to know what you are buying.

On raising funds you want it to be quick, simple and cost effective.
Andrew can add value from his practical experience that will support you and the aim is to provide you with advice over the long term that will help you to build and realise value in your business.

26 August 2015

Meet the expert: John F Kettley of The Sales Masters Guild

To give you a little more insight into the experts that are part of the live panel for our Pitch to the Experts competition, we are introducing each of the four members over the coming days…

John F Kettley
John is fast becoming known as one of the UK’s top inspirational speakers on how to achieve your true potential in building a high income wealth creating business.

Having started built and sold a number of his own businesses in multiple market sectors, John has experienced just about every challenge a business owner will ever face, which is why his presentations and business development seminars are so valuable to hear and learn from.

As a serial entrepreneur and business investor, John has invested in, built and sold a diverse range of companies, accruing business knowledge and interests in the UK, Ireland, Spain and the USA.

In 2009 John founded the Sales Masters Guild, a profit share organisation whose mission is to inspire educate and support business owners to grow solid profit orientated businesses that work.

21 August 2015

Pitch to the Experts to receive help in approaching retail buyers

You find it difficult engaging with retail buyers
You hit a wall of silence when following up on leads you have from the trade shows
You have a successful first meeting with the buyer only to never hear from them again

If you can answer yes to any of these questions then read on…

Fresh Perspective is the only specialist consultancy that provides insight with the authority of having actually worked for two of the UK’s largest multiple retailers. They specialise in advising FMCG blue chip and artisan food producers on how to win with their retail customers.

Hazel Stride founded Fresh Perspective after identifying the need for businesses to think and talk like their customers enabling them to be more successful in getting, keeping and growing their business in the retail market.

Having sat on the ‘dark side’ of the desk for many years as a buyer for one of the UK’s largest retailers, Hazel has seen the good, bad and ugly of companies trying to sell their products.

With this knowledge Hazel guides companies on their route to market offering unique insight into what it is like to be a buyer, how to pitch your offer to engage with your audience, negotiation skills and lots more.

Hazel has spent all her career in the food industry and has a rare ability to understand the whole supply chain from ‘plough to plate’.

She has worked with some established branded and private label manufacturers that include Weetabix and Müller Dairy and in addition she has recently spent time working with the food team at Selfridges helping to launch their new range of ‘Selfridges Selection’ products.

Fresh Perspective is delighted to be working in collaboration with the Artisan Food Trail and each of the panel of experts to provide a truly unique and valuable prize, which can help you and your business be more successful.

The Prize

Pitch your product to Hazel in a ‘safe’ environment as if you were delivering your pitch to a ‘buyer’ and get the all-important feedback. Hazel will then work with you to build on and improve your approach so you are ready to tackle the ‘real thing’.

Web: www.fresh-perspective.co.uk
Email: info@fresh-perspective.co.uk
Tel: 07836 352068
Twitter: @HazelFreshP
Linkedin: http://uk.linkedin.com/in/hazelstride

20 August 2015

Pitch to the Experts for advice on developing your kitchen facility

The Artisan Food Trail has put together a panel of experts that could help you get that ‘leg-up’ with your food business.
Pitch to the Experts is a competition where the winning food business will receive up to a total of £10,000 worth of expert advice and help from the 10 members of the panel.

We’d like to introduce each of the panel members individually to give you a better understanding of their businesses and how they could help you.
There are also details of the prize they are offering to the Pitch to the Experts winner.

Today we introduce Eco Catering Equipment, suppliers of leading commercial catering equipment to the catering, hospitality and food production industries…

The Artisan Food Trail has a created a great community and resource to enable the independent producers and newcomers to share, develop and grow. Eco Catering is proud to be associated with them and do our part to assist in any way we can, whether it be the supply of equipment or some industry advice.

It is important when you purchase any equipment that it is suitable for the environment in which it is to operate. Eco Catering helps you meet those needs by supplying proven industry leading products, helping to maximise your return on your investment.

Venturing into the world of commercial kitchen equipment can be a daunting experience, so we help to guide you in making the right choices. Whether you’re looking to replace existing equipment or needing a completely new set up, we will assist you through the whole process.

Even the smallest production facilities can benefit significantly from purchasing the correct equipment to help their company perform and grow. Quality equipment is not just for the big names.There is equipment available to suit every production requirement and budget.

This equipment will invariably form the heart of your production operation and to have it fail or not perform can have significant financial implications.
It is vital that our customers experience the very best level of support. From the first time they contact with us, through to the final purchasing decision, we provide relevant advice detailing the benefits and features of our products. We will help guide you so you can make an informed choice and be confident you will have a performing production facility.

We can consult on your production and budgetary requirements, not only making sure you create a facility that can handle the workload now but for any future expansion plans. We also focus on the hidden costs. Utility bills, which are always on the increase, are often overlooked but there are significant running cost implications and potential savings to be made. We will consider and advise on the life expectancy and future service and parts support of any equipment.

You are our highest priority, our team fully understands this and our customer support ensures clients always purchase with confidence.

The Prize

Advice and consultancy on the development of your kitchen or production facility.
If you do decide to purchase any equipment through us, you will be entitled to the AFT member’s discount.

Web: www.eco-catering-equipment.co.uk
Email: info@eco-catering-equipment.co.uk
Tel: 01582 865050
Twitter: @Eco_Catering
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Eco-Catering-Equipment/212549602109241

19 August 2015

Pitch to the Experts for business networking and social media training

How to effectively and efficiently network face to face
How to effectively and efficiently use social media and engage with social networking
Understand the true costs incurred
How to measure the ROI of your investment in business networking
How to get more leads, more visibility, better targeting and more enquiries

Through 24-7’s training, mentoring and our own networking groups, we provide a step by step Pathway Programme to develop your networking strategies resulting in effective and efficient networking – giving more leads, more visibility, better targeting and more enquiries.

I’m Mick Holloway, the architect of 24-7 Business Networking’s thoughtfully, innovative networking platform. Defining and developing 24-7’s holistic approach to networking support has drawn on my understanding of the web technologies, my business experience, over 15 years of active business networking and my ability through training and tutorials to ‘de-mystify’ complex technical subjects and facilitate the application of technology to business.

I am delighted with the flexible services we have put together in
24-7 Business Networking.
Following our Social Media Success Circle using this strategy…

“Why do it?” “What do I want?”

“Who do I need to connect to?”

“Where do I find them?”

“What do I say to them?”

“How do I organise them?”

“How do I know if it’s working?”

Our members choose how they wish to learn and how much support they need
A comprehensive, and growing, range of tutorials and training courses, delivered however you like to learn, self taught, class based, mentored, group learning, online or video based
Our own face to face networking groups
Our own social networking groups
Measurable results

The food industry is perfectly placed to benefit from social media. Applied correctly, social media is a hugely effective, very low cost way to raise your profile, reach new markets, new customers. Ideal for product launches, news, updates and generally sharing messages with customers old and new.
 
24-7’s social media training shows you how to effectively and efficiently grow your food business, whatever size. We show you how to leverage your passion for your products and services. How to spread the word online reaching wider audiences – 24/7. Capturing your uniqueness, focussing on your niche, we show you how to make sure your social media presence works for you helping you achieve your business goals.  

Whatever levels of IT, computer and social media skills and knowledge you have, our training de-mystifies complex processes making social media success available for all.

Complete beginner? Relax we take it gently, we take it slow, building your skills steadily – contrary to what you may think – social media is not rocket science you only need to be shown, and we have you backed up with our own forums and access to our experts.

Experienced user? Great, let us take you past your self-taught knowledge, sharing industry best practice strategies, and techniques to improve your ROI while at the same time drive down the time you invest. And we insulate you from the ever, and rapidly, changing technology, monitoring ‘over the horizon’ keeping ahead of the curve and then sharing developing trends and technologies. 
We keep it SIMPLE, we show you HOW, and we HELP you to make the most of social media.

The Prize
2 x 12 month’s full 24-7 membership
2 x places on our mentored training programme

Web: www.24-7.so
Tel: 01438 791017
Email: info@24-7.so
Twitter: @247Networking
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/247Networking
You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/user/247networking
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+24-7So/posts
Blog: http://mickholloway.blogspot.co.uk

18 August 2015

Pitch to the Experts for greater customer connection and communication

The Artisan Food Trail has put together a panel of experts that could help you get that ‘leg-up’ with your food business.
Pitch to the Experts is a competition where the winning food business will receive up to a total of £10,000 worth of expert advice and help from the 10 members of the panel.

We’d like to introduce each of the panel members individually to give you a better understanding of their businesses and how they could help you.
There are also details of the prize they are offering to the Pitch to the Experts winner.

Today we introduce Light Degree, experts in customer relationship management…

Automating systems in the Food Industry
When operating a business, a key component in ensuring the success of the business for the long term, is a list of your customers. Then you might extend the list to include potential customers and even suppliers.

While when starting out you might be able to use a spreadsheet to record this information. As your business expands, however, it is a little trickier to keep it updated and at the same time sharing it with other team members, for example, is this the most recent version that has the updates? and also there can be a lot of copying and pasting to even make it work effectively.

A minimum basic requirement is a CRM or customer relationship management software which can have shared access and when it is updated all of the updates are automatically in place for everyone else.

This then not only records details of static information but, just as importantly,
it can track the status of your contacts, such as are they a potential customer, have we already sent them a quote or a brochure or have they been a customer for a long time. Because when they call your business it can make a difference to how you will speak with them, at least it will make a difference what you will talk to them about. For example, if they are a long standing customer, who called a couple of days ago to ask about a new product order, then they don’t really want to receive a sales pitch, instead they probably just want to talk about their football team or what they did last weekend. If you have this information in front of you when talking with them to prompt you with what you talked about with them the last time you spoke, it is so much easier to build strong relationships with them.

It is really helpful to be able to sort your contacts list into categories and then to be able to send a mail-out either in the post or using a bulk email application. This means that you can send a marketing campaign that has been tailored to the interests of the people you are talking too.
You might also want to capture a list of names of people who are interested in your business and who would like to receive press release information and announcements of special products etc. so that you can email them updates. This can have a profound benefit when releasing a new product because you can spread the word probably so much easier than using traditional marketing methods (and it’s probably much cheaper as well).

OK so now you have your contact / customers and supplier details sorted,
how about your employees? This application allows you to record employees or contractors details including such things like their home address, next of
kin etc.

Along with your supplier details you can also record stock or inventory information. Stock levels, quantities stored in different stores or warehouses along with details about each of your stock line items such as descriptions, photographs / images, batch best before dates, bar codes and other information.

If you have a manufacturing process that runs over days or weeks then each batch can be added as a project. Then you can allocate jobs and manage the progression through the process.

Because all of this information can be accessed using this one application which you can update from any computer or by using a mobile app it is really easy to put the systems in place to manage your business.
The best part is that with the systems in place you are in a position to expand and grow your business.

The Prize

12 months access to the light degree application
up to 10 users
setup including custom fields / tags for your business
uploading of your contact information (bulk data import)
unlimited online training (for the first 30 days) to get you started
backups of all information
ongoing support
application updates

(includes email marketing trial)

Web: www.lightdegree.com

Tel: 01707 262399 / 07738 150146
Google+: https://plus.google.com/b/103643126310114431777/+Lightdegree-Job-Management-and-CRM/posts
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/light-degree-limited?trk=biz-companies-cym
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Light-Degree/260778820692229
Twitter: @lightdegree

17 August 2015

Pitch to the Experts for fire safety help

The Artisan Food Trail has put together a panel of experts that could help you get that ‘leg-up’ with your food business.
Pitch to the Experts is a competition where the winning food business will receive up to a total of £10,000 worth of expert advice and help from the 10 members of the panel.

We’d like to introduce each of the panel members individually to give you a better understanding of their businesses and how they could help you.
There are also details of the prize they are offering to the Pitch to the Experts winner.

Today we introduce Fire Safety Services (UK), helping to keep your food business safe…

Fire Safety Services (UK) Ltd are supporting small food businesses throughout the UK by forming part of the £10k prize package for the winner of 'Pitch to the Experts' at this year's Food Entrepreneur Show & Takeaway Innovation Expo.

Fire Safety Management For Food Businesses
A fire safety management system can significantly reduce the risks and minimise the potential effects of fire. Fire safety management need not be complicated for your business. Fire Risk Assessments must be suitable and sufficient, therefore need to be completed by competent persons. We can help all sizes of food business (including, catering companies, hotels, restaurants and fixed/mobile takeaway companies) to ensure they get it right.

It is very easy to become complacent about basic fire safety management when you have a whole myriad of tasks and pressures needing attention. However, by accepting poor housekeeping or breaching fire compartments by wedging open fire resisting doors, a small fire could potentially grow substantially and quickly spread through the building and become untenable. This would be easily preventable by implementing a simple fire safety management system.

Why Choose Us?
Fire Safety Services work on the principle of offering a high quality service and products to its customers, irrespective of size, location, quantity of sites etc. because fire is indiscriminate and can affect anyone at any time.

Quality and integrity are at the heart of our company culture; distinguishing our company from other fire safety providers.

Third-party Accreditation
We are a third-party accredited company. This means that we are assessed independently on a regular basis to ensure we comply with the highest possible standards in fire safety. We are ISO 9001:2008 certified, BAFE approved, NSI Gold Fire certified, LPCB approved and hold registration under the government backed CHAS scheme for health & safety. Furthermore, we are active members of the industry leading Fire Industry Association (FIA).

Top 5 Fire Safety Tips for Food Businesses
Most of us will be aware of events involving fire, some may have experienced it personally, but in generally it is something that happens to somebody else.

When you have had a Fire Risk Assessment carried out it must be suitable and sufficient; this will help you reduce the potential for a fire occurring dramatically. It will give you the guidance to put in place the training, plans, measures, equipment and maintenance needed to ensure your business is compliant, protected and less likely to suffer the devastating effects of a fire.

Below we have compiled our top 5 fire safety tips for food businesses:

Storage – Remove any empty boxes and other combustible items and ensure stock is not stacked too close to heat sources such as lighting or heaters.
Escape Routes – These can become temporarily blocked during deliveries. Once the delivery is finished clear the exit routes and move stock to the appropriate area/room.
Automatic detection / sprinkler heads – Avoid storing stock too close to these as they will not work as designed. Also do not cover the detector heads with plastic bags etc.! If they keep going off you must find out why and get the problem rectified.
Ducting – A high amount of fires start in the ducting above the cooking range to the outlet. This is due to grease deposits building up and igniting. The ducting should be deep cleaned annually by an approved contractor. Interim cleaning of removable filters and grease traps should be implemented weekly.
Fire Extinguishers – Ensure these are visually inspected weekly to confirm they are ready for use and are not obstructed. Regular staff training should be carried out to familiarise staff with the different types of fire fighting equipment and how to use it.

The Prize
The prize provides the winner with a Fire Risk Assessment (including written report) containing fire safety compliance recommendations and advice up to a value of £1k.

Web: www.firesafetyservices.co.uk
Tel: 08000 23411
Email: enquiries@firesafetyservices.co.uk
Twitter: @fss_fire
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fssuk
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fire-safety-services-uk-ltd

14 August 2015

Pitch to the Experts for funding assistance

A professionally produced video pitch explaining the business and why someone should invest in it
A well written business plan which can be easily read. Remember most people have a short attention span so you must find the right words to attract and maintain their interest. It is not a plan which would be read by a bank manager but one read by the general public; and
A set of numbers, that’s a balance sheet, profit and loss account and cash flow statement.

I would not profess to be an expert in making videos; however I do know a good business plan when I see it. I have read several over the years and can tell those that have been well researched and put together. I would not write it for you but would be a critical friend when reviewing it.

Once you have a fair idea of how the plan looks we need to put together some numbers. I can help you as I have been involved in many fund raising exercises and have a template which can be adapted to provide the sites with the information they require.

The Prize

If a large, growing business wins, we will be offering a full financial health check along with a written report identifying those areas where cost savings could be made along with a written report on the alternative means of funding the growth of the business.
For a smaller, growing business, it will be a shorter financial health check with a review of the alternative sources of finance available to them for funding the growth of their business.

Web: www.assyntcf.co.uk
Email: Andrew Watkin – awatkin@assyntcf.co.uk
Tel: 07860 898452
LinkedIn Andrew Watkin: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/andrewwatkin
LinkedIn Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/assynt-corporate-finance-limited?trk=top_nav_home

13 August 2015

Pitch to the Experts for mentoring and training

The Artisan Food Trail has put together a panel of experts that could help you get that ‘leg-up’ with your food business.
Pitch to the Experts is a competition where the winning food business will receive up to a total of £10,000 worth of expert advice and help from the 10 members of the panel.

We’d like to introduce each of the panel members individually to give you a better understanding of their businesses and how they could help you.
There are also details of the prize they are offering to the Pitch to the Experts winner.

Today we introduce The Sales Masters Guild, helping businesses to create wealth …

As founder of the Sales Masters Guild and co-founder/owner of Gladleys Courtyard Brasserie in North Hertfordshire, John Kettley has a special passion for owner operator businesses whose focus is in the food industry, particularly those businesses that are founded on a passion for providing something that the mass producers simply cannot offer, which is why John and his team are looking forward to working with the Artisan Food Trail to help food businesses flourish and thrive at this year's Food Entrepreneur Show.

The Sales Masters Guild was founded in 2009 by John F Kettley, to help turn around and make profitable the tens of thousands of struggling owner operator businesses across the UK that were and are being let down by the banks, government and national 'business organisations'.

The sad fact is, '80% of businesses fail in their first five years of trading' and of those that do survive, 80% of these never go on to actually achieve their goal of being a high-income business.

The main reason for this appalling set of statistics, being that all to often the business owner (while being an expert at what it is that they do), has simply never studied 'HOW' to build a high-income business; they've never learnt how to develop a brand and market that brand to the right niche market sector, nor have they learned how to create a value proposition that has clients lining up at the door to buy their services.

This is why the Project Blueprint program was born i.e. to share the formula for a business that works, teaching business owners through mediums that work for them at a price that absolutely anyone in business can afford, let that be through reading the book, listening to the audio book version, studying the on-line video tutorial course, attending live mentored course seminars or personal 1-2-1 mentoring with a qualified SMG mentor.

Now six years later, the business mentors of the Guild have trained and helped thousands of business owners to stop struggling and turn their businesses into high-income generating businesses that create both wealth and the work-life balance they were originally set up to achieve.

The book 'How To Build A Business That Creates Wealth' by John Kettley is available through Amazon in digital, paperback and audio formats, the on-line video tutorial course containing over 50 individual elements is available at www.salesmastersguild.com where business owners can find a vast amount of free tutorials, downloadable resources and dates for upcoming seminars to help them learn the essentials needed to create a high-income business.

The Prize

A full review of their sales and marketing strategy from their business plan
A written report reviewing areas that need focus and recommendations
Two places at the two day Business and Sales Foundation workshop course
A free copy of John F Kettley's book 'How To Build A Business That Creates Wealth'
One year's access to the Sales Masters Guild on-line business growth course

Web: www.salesmastersguild.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Sales-Masters-Guild/350972714913289?fref=ts
Twitter: @JohnFKettley
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/johnkettley
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+JohnKettley/posts
You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/user/SalesmastersGuild/videos

12 August 2015

Pitch to the Experts for legal help

When was the last time you reviewed your terms of business (assuming you have some)? Do they reflect what you actually do as a business and do they protect you should things not go to plan?
If you employ staff, have you given them the correct documentation such as contacts of employment and are you confident they include the key points?
Are your debtors under control? If you have customers who are not paying you may want to consider getting some help to persuade them you are serious about collecting your money.
If you are speaking to possible outlets, what do you have in place to make sure they don’t take your idea and produce it themselves, or get someone cheaper to make it?

These are all real business issues that affect the profit in your pocket, and they are all areas where a lawyer can help.

Our Food team has a wealth of experience helping food businesses maximise their opportunities. From entrepreneurial start-ups to manufacturers with products in every shop in the high street it’s about taking a commercial approach in a fast moving and innovative sector.

The Prize
Roythornes Food and Drink team will undertake a full of review the paperwork of the winning business and recommend any changes that need to be made to ensure they are ‘fit for growth’. For example.

Is the business structure suited to its current trading position? Another structure could offer more protection, or be more tax efficient.
Does the business have written terms and conditions and if so how well do they reflect the way the company actually operates?
Is their credit control process watertight and how well are they managing their debtors? There’s no point selling products of you don’t get paid!

It’s an opportunity to get the ‘back-room’ sorted so that you can continue to focus on developing your great products.

Web: http://www.roythorne.co.uk/site/sectors/food-and-drink-solicitors/
Email: Martin Jinks – martinjinks@roythornes.co.uk
Tel: 01775 842500
Twitter: @roythornes_food

9 August 2015

COMPETITION TIME! Win a tasty Tg Green Teas bundle with iced and hot teas plus accessories

To celebrate the launch of their teas, Hua and Sophia of Tg Green Teas have kindly given The Artisan Food Trail a lovely prize consisting of a selection of their teas and a few accessories (worth over £40): 9 bottles of ice tea, 3 packs of hot tea (1 of each variant), 1 glass tea tumbler (for carrying around your brewed tea), and 1 small Chinese tea set (teapot and 2 little cups).

Ancient wellness traditions, blended into refreshing hot and chilled brews. Deliciously natural energy infusions using good-for-you ingredients, some borrowed some new. Developed in Britain by women entrepreneurs, Hua and Sophia, who believe passionately about bringing to folks up and down the country great tasting good-for-you drinks.

Sorry this competition has now closed

7 August 2015

Win the boost your food business deserves

Pitch To The Experts to win up to £10k worth of help and advice for your business

If you own or run or are starting a food business you’ll be interested in entering ‘Pitch to the Experts’.
A prize package worth up to £10,000 for one food business. This essential business support package will help someone move forward in creating the successful business they are looking for. The Artisan Food Trail has put together a team of experts: Branding & Marketing, Business Mentors & Trainers, Legal, Funding, CRM, Catering Equipment Specialists and more, who have offered their time, knowledge and support to review the winner’s business, help them with essential advice and pointers in areas that they know they are struggling and strengthening them in other areas to put themselves on the road to business success.

The panel consists of:

The Artisan Food Trail – branding, marketing and promotion
The Sales Masters Guild – mentors and trainers
Roythornes Solicitors – field-to-fork legal advice
Assynt Corporate Finance – funding advice
Light Degree – customer relationship management
Eco Catering Equipment – catering equipment specialists
Fresh Perspective – helping plan your route to market
Fire Safety Services – ensuring you meet the latest fire legislation within your business
24-7 Business Networking – connecting and training businesses face-to-face and online

Shortlisted entrants will have the opportunity to pitch live to the panel at The Food Entrepreneur Show (co-located with The Takeaway Innovation Expo) at London ExCel on 30th September.
It is not obligatory pitch at the show as entrants have the option to opt out (this will not affect consideration of their entry).

Keep up-to-date with our articles featuring each of the experts on the panel here

To enter visit:
www.artisanfoodtrail.co.uk/pitch-to-the-experts.html
Fill in the entry form (make sure you keep a copy of your entry as you’ll need this if you’re shortlisted to pitch at the show). The entry form requires some basic details and then some specific questions about your business – which should be easy to answer as you’ll already have thought about these when writing your business plan.

Online entries close midnight Friday 18th September 2015 and shortlisted businesses will be contacted between Monday 21st and Friday 25th September with their invitation to pitch live at the show (full details, times, etc. will be supplied at this time).

Tickets for The Food Entrepreneur Show 2015 and Takeaway Innovation Expo 2015 at London's Excel on 29th – 30th September are completely FREE.
To register for your free tickets, visit the registration page and fill in your details today.

13 May 2015

Food businesses invited to rise to the challenge

What could your small food business do with £5000 worth of business help?

For many small food businesses getting help they need to grow can be costly, so we at The Artisan Food Trail are supporting this through our very own design company, childsdesign. Our part of the prize offers both a big understanding of branding for your business and the marketing required online and offline for a small food business.

There is a chance to win up to £5000 worth of business advice for your small food business and The Food Business Challenge has been put together to help prepare one lucky business for the next step. All you have to do to stand a chance of winning is to tell us (in up to 500 words) why you believe winning will give you the boost you need.

The Food Business Challenge is brought to you by five Challenge Partners – each with a real understanding of the issues facing food businesses:

Roythornes Solicitors will review your legal documentation – your contracts, terms and conditions and non-disclosure agreements to make sure your business is protected and ready for growth.

WLP consultants will undertake a top line strategic review of your business – where are you going and are you approaching your target markets in the
best way?

Pelican Communications will conduct a social media and PR audit of your business – what are you and others saying about your business and how can you use social media to generate sales.

Bulley Davey accountants will have a look at your financial structure, systems and reporting methods and highlight issues where your business could be performing better and where changes could be made to make sure you are ‘financially fit for growth’.

Design experts childsdesign will audit your packaging, identity and website – analysing how it fits in with your brand, where you are and where you want
to be.

The challenge is open now and entries can be made up until 5pm on 17th July 2015.

Visit the website to find out more and submit your entry www.foodbusinesschallenge.co.uk

6 February 2015

Get cosy with an alpaca

So with the cold weather upon us we have teamed up with our friends Yew Tree Alpacas for our latest competition.
Although The Artisan Food Trail is all about food, these alpacas are definitely not for eating! However we do also appreciate those people who rear animals for their other benefits too and alpacas are famed for their super soft and warm fleeces. These are spun into yarn to make beautiful wearable items.

Yew Tree Alpacas in Anstey, near Buntingford in Hertfordshire is a small but growing herd of alpacas based in the picturesque village of Anstey near Buntingford. The herd was formed in May 2009 from a base of four girls, Barbara, Joyce, Jessica and Manette. Now, nearly 6 years later (January 2015) the herd consists of 29 alpacas, most of which have been bred at Yew Tree. Both the girls and boys are reared for their fleece which is beautifully soft and warm, a totally natural and ethical product.

Alpaca socks and other items knitted in alpaca yarn are very soft and warm, with excellent wicking properties to keep you pleasantly warm and dry. Alpaca is also hypoallergenic, many people who are allergic to lamb’s wool can wear alpaca. Yew Tree Alpacas sell a range of alpaca accessories, activities and gifts which also includes a range of ivory and chocolate alpaca yarns spun from the best fleeces in their herd.

The majority of their range of alpaca accessories, most are hand knitted from their own natural alpaca yarn; hats, gloves, scarves and shawls although other coloured alpaca yarns are also used to provide customers with a wider colour range. Yew Tree Alpacas also sells a range of alpaca socks from day socks for wear in every day shoes to the thicker walking socks, long country socks and bed socks. All are completely natural and ethically produced products knitted in the UK.

Visit the Yew Tree Alpacas website to find out more here

Win a £30 voucher to spend with Yew Tree Alpacas
Yew Tree Alpacas have kindly given The Artisan Food Trail a £30 gift voucher to use on any of their products - including their Alpaca Adoption Package.
Sorry this competition has closed

10 December 2014

WIN a Gluten Free Cookie Mix or Get In The Mood® Coffee Gift Box in our Christmas competition

Make sure you take part in our spectacular 12 Days of Christmas competition as we have some fantastic prizes on offer, 37 in all.
We've already told you about most of the prizes over the last few days and these are the final two in our haul…

Bake Your Own Gluten Free Plain Cookie Mix from Harnell Cottage Bakes

Owner, Jenny was diagnosed as gluten intolerant herself over 10 years ago and has made it her quest to offer a tasty gluten free alternative, not a second best.
This would make a perfect treat for yourself or a great fun gift to get kids baking.
All the dry ingredients to make a batch of 12 medium cookies.
They can be made dairy free by substituting the butter for a dairy free alternative. This makes a great base mix for adding your own flavours.

Find out more about Harnell Cottage Bakes on their website here

Get In The Mood® Ultimate Gift Box from The House of Coffee

Go on a fantastic journey with delicious fresh coffee.
This original gift contains five stunning blends of coffee with character which will match a range of moods.
All the 227g bags of coffee are pre-ground and will arrive in a special Get in the Mood® recyclable cardboard suitcases filled with protective coloured shredding.

Partied Out Panda® who will help you wake up gently, is a delightful, blend for a smooth coffee with low acidity and a medium body.

Hectic Hamster® who will help you keep your buzz on, is a light original blend for a crisp coffee with slight fruity, citrus tones.

Intrepid Baboon® who will help you start an adventure, is a wonderful blend for a rich and full flavour. This dark Italian roast makes a great crema and has a delightful aroma.

Brilliant Raccoon® who will help you reach your goals, is an impactful caffeine rich blend to give you a pure boost.

Fancy Cat® who will help you indulge in style, is a meticulously prepared blend for a rich, velvety smooth coffee for a sophisticated drinking experience. Good body with chocolaty tones.

Find out more about The House of Coffee on their website here

There are many more prizes in our 12 Days of Christmas competition so why not head over to The Artisan Food Trail website and
This competition has now closed

Look out for further posts where we focus on the prizes you could win and remember the competition closes at midnight on 12th December 2014.

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