Online Sector Focus: Food and Drink

Somerset Chamber of Commerce are providing a platform for business sectors to come together and discuss their current issues and how to overcome them.

This closed forum is specifically for businesses operating in the Food & Drink sector to share best practices, any issues that they are currently experiencing, and share opportunities that are available to them within the industry.

We are delighted to be joined by our event sponsor Steve Ashworth from PKF Francis Clark. Steve provides support and assistance to clients across all trade and industry sectors, but has regularly dealt with clients within the food, drink and hospitality sectors. Steve will speak to the group about Food trends, Tech and Talent. There is a lot of changing information as to what the latest foods trends are for 2021 as we leave lockdown, how food tech is supporting many of the ways we will eat and drink and how important it is to retain talent over this period. 

Steve lives in Taunton and is passionate about food and drink. He is a member of Feeding Bristol and Bristol Food Policy Council, Chairs the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership Rural and Food Group and is a Board Member for Bristol Food Connections. As well as organising charity dinners and food festivals where Steve is often found compering on the food demo stage. 

Our speaker Sam Salway from Chef's Country Cuisine will talk to delegates about setting up his own company delivering boxed fine dining restaurant meals to the door. Sam trained in both classical English and French Cookery and has worked closely with top chefs in the South West. He worked in France for 10 years in busy Parisian restaurants and also ran a cookery school. On his return to the UK, he set up Chef's Country Cuisine. The company really found its' feet during the first lockdown where Sam was inundated with enquiries with households wanting to celebrate birthday etc with dishes from his professional menu - others just didn't want to cook every day and would rather fill the freezer with his food. Sam will talk about how he juggled his 'day-job' with his business whilst being in the kitchen until 3am most days! This success was interrupted when restaurants and pubs opened back up in the summer, and his orders ground to a halt overnight. Sam will talk to us about how he has built the business back up, changed his strategy, marketing and service offering. 

As an avid supporter of small local businesses, Sam will talk about the struggles within the industry during this very difficult time, and how he has coped with the ups and downs that government measures have imposed on his business. He will also discuss current issues such as recruitment and the increase in staff wages, and produce pricing and availability. 
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Please note: If you are a non-member please get in touch if you would like to book this event on 01823 444924 or email membership@somerset-chamber.co.uk


Please note: that if you do not operate in this industry you will not qualify to attend this forum.