Food and Drink

South West England is one of the strongest food and drink producing regions in the UK offering a diverse range of products and producers. There are over 3,000 food and drink producers in the South West. Many small, traditional and new companies are located in this region providing a highly innovative and focused business region. Larger food and drink manufacturers are also well represented in the region, with over 60 companies employing more than 200 people. 
 
The South West has the largest agricultural region in England boasting over 1.8million hectares of agricultural land with a very mild climate which allows a prolonged growing and rearing season. The natural high quality of the primary foods produced in the region, ie, milk, meat, fish, fruit and vegetables, ensures that the local supply chain is constantly in demand. Many of the successful companies in the region have taken advantage of their original roots within the supply chain by diversifying and being more innovative with their processes. 
 
As the consumer becomes more aware of food safety and quality, environmental and welfare issues, the South West is an excellent location for future investment. The organic sector is the strongest of all English regions with 26% of all organic farmers located in the South West. With its traditional farming ties and strong links to tourism, South West producers have been able to increase the niche and quality markets - a trend which is expected to continue. 
 
To assist food and drink producers in the region, the South West of England Regional Development Agency (South West RDA) is supporting the umbrella trade organisation for the Food and Drink Industry in South West England, South West Food & Drink  
 
South West Food & Drink provides a voice for, and strategic direction to, the industry in the region and coordinates the activities of other South West regional food and drink organisations. These comprise Taste of the West, the South West's speciality food & drink promotional body, the South West Local Food Partnership, promoter of farmers' markets and coordinator of Food Links, Organic South West and the sector groups, Meat South West, and Dairy South West . 
 
The South West Food and Drink Skills Network another sub-sector of SW Food and Drink, offers training needs analysis to SMEs and micro-companies to identify skills gaps and appropriate training courses. The Skills Network works in collaboration with some of the leading agricultural colleges in the South West - Duchy College, Cornwall; Cannington College, Somerset and Hartpbury College, Gloucestershire.

Higher Education Expertise

South West England not only has an extremely high concentration of higher educational institutes - producing a flow of qualified graduates - but it also attracts skilled workers from all over the UK, drawn here by the exceptional quality of life the region has to offer.  
 
Some of the Universities in the South West which have expertise in the Food and Drink Industry include: 
 
Bath Spa University College - Food Business Research & Consultancy Unit 
 
Bournemouth University - Worshipful Company of Cooks Centre for Culinary Research 
 
University of Bristol - Food Refrigeration and Process Engineering 
 
UWE, Bristol - Centre for Research in Analytical, Materials and Sensors Science 
 
University of Exeter - Centre for Rural Research; Biotechnology SW Ltd; Environmental & Ecology Research Group 
 
University of Gloucestershire - The Food Supply Chain Centre; Countryside and Community Research Unit. 
 
University of Plymouth - The Agrifood Centre; the Food, Nutrition and Health Research Laboratories and the Industrial and Engineering Research Group (Food Texture and Flow). 
 
Campden & Chorleywood Food Research Association (CCFRA) - Campden & Chorleywood Food Research Association Group is the UK's largest independent membership based organisation carrying out R&D for the food & drinks Industry. It is committed to providing industry with the research, technical and advisory services needed to ensure product safety and quality process efficiency and product and process innovation.