We’re delighted to be continuing our partnership with the team at eat:Festivals this year. Their series of food festivals throughout the West Country are always so popular, and are an amazing showcase for our regional food and drink producers.

Once again we have worked with eat:Festivals to provide a bursary to first time traders. Five recipients made their debut at eat:Taunton.

It’s always inspiring to see young food businesses entering the market. Here in the West Country we are surrounded by talented producers, many of whom are taking their first steps into the world of trading. Beverley and Sarah offer local food and drink traders an incredible platform through their programme of award winning eat:Festivals, and for first-time traders the Thatchers bursary marks the start of many exciting adventures.

The 2022 bursary recipients at eat:Taunton were:

 

The Pekarna

Snezhina Vasileva has been inspired by her heritage making traditional Bulgarian Pastries. She says:

Winning this bursary means to me that following the dream to open my small business was worth it every step of the way, and that my aim of bringing Bulgarian food to people who had, or would never have tried it is becoming reality. I want to spread that warm feeling with a broader audience and showcase what delights Bulgaria has to offer.

 

 

Heydon Hill Forest Products

Jane Crockett raises pigs in forest land, and makes sausages and bacon products.

She says: As a new and small business, previously selling mostly to friends and the local community, we feel very lucky to have this bursary from Thatchers Cider. The bursary has allowed us to take the next and vital step in growing our business, by providing us with the opportunity to take part in the wonderful eat:Taunton festival,  which is all about promoting local food producers and their high quality products. We are very excited about meeting new customers and introducing them to our artisan barbecue charcoal and grilled sausages,and meeting other local producers too.

 

 

Amai

Jade Hillman makes Japanese Taiyaki to order. She says:

As a new business just starting out, having the opportunity to learn from people who have been there and succeeded means a lot. It also emphasises just how much of a community spirit there is amongst, not just food producers, but also local businesses in the South West

 

Secret of Family Recipes

Fahmida Begum creates her own spice mix from her family recipes. She says:

Getting the Thatchers Bursary is taking me one step forward to my dream of introducing authentic Bangladeshi food to South West of England. What could be better than a well established festival to test the market for some authentic cuisine?

 

RebelRox Kitchen

Roxy Hole creates vegan brownies and cookies. She says:

Having perfected my brownie recipe over the last 4 years, it’s taken a long time to bring what I can offer to the market. This Amazing Bursary will enable me to hit the ground running with my business and open so many doors for my small start up business from my home kitchen.

 

 

 

We’re excited to meet more bursary recipients later in the year.