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www.wellingtonfoodtown.co.uk

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Food Town hamper in exchange for feedback
The presentation has taken place of a food hamper put up as a prize to encourage visitors to the Wellington Food Town launch event to fill in a feedback form.
The hamper was filled with hundreds of pounds of food and vouchers donated by producers who took part in the event, which attracted an estimated attendance of nearly 5,000 people.
Almost 1,000 feedback forms were returned on the day and the winner of the hamper was Mrs Denise Howell, of High Street, Wellington.
Mrs Howell was presented with the hamper by John Pragnell, chairman of Wellington Economic Partnership, which organised the launch event.
She said: “It was a brilliant event to have locally and I was quite surprised to see all the different foods that are available in the area, it really opened my eyes to what you can get locally and how good it is.
“I went along with some friends and to win the hamper just before Christmas is wonderful. It is the first time I have ever won anything like this, I am thrilled with it.”
The launch event was the official start of a five-year project to turn Wellington into the ‘Food Town’ of Somerset, much as Ludlow is recognised as a centre of food excellence in the Midlands.
It involved about 40 local food stalls set up in a giant town centre marquee to showcase everything from Christmas cakes to bison sausages, and food co-operatives to recycling information.
Mr Pragnell said feedback from visitors was important because it would be carefully analysed in order to help the Food Town steering group enhance future events.
He said several more activities were already in the pipeline for 2007 and it was important to be able to let people know about them as details were firmed up.
Mr Pragnell said: “The intention is to move towards a major two-day festival of food in the town which we want to become a fixture on the annual events calendar, probably in early autumn.
“We have made a good start with the launch event and now we must build on it and keep the interest and enthusiasm going.
“Part of that will involve a reception near the end of January where we will invite everybody involved in the launch so we can say ‘thank you’ to them and start to look in more detail at the activities for 2007.”
The Wellington Food Town catchment area takes in much of Somerset and a large chunk of Devon, an containing eight Rick Stein Food Heroes and dozens of other award-winning producers.
Wellington Food Town is organised by Wellington Economic Partnership in conjunction with Taunton Deane Borough Council and Wellington Town Council, and is supported by Wellington Chamber of Commerce and Trade, Wellington Farmers’ Market, and Somerset Food Links.
More information is available from Nicky Saunter at Somerset Food Links on 01458 241401 or email nickys@foodlinks.org.uk or by logging on to www.wellingtonfoodtown.blogspot.com.

• Our photograph shows Wellington Economic Partnership chairman John Pragnell congratulating Denise Howell on winning a hamper of Christmas food from the Wellington Food Town launch event.

Huge success for Food Town launch
Almost 5,000 people are estimated to have attended the Wellington Food Town launch on Saturday, December 2, making the event an overwhelming success.
The launch day marked the official start of a five-year project to turn Wellington into the ‘Food Town’ of Somerset, much as Ludlow is recognised as a centre of food excellence in the Midlands.
Visitors to the event came from as far afield as Plymouth, in Devon, Worcester, Stafford, and Bognor Regis, and even some from South Africa - although some were already staying locally.
Around 40 local food stalls were set up in a giant marquee in the car park of Wellington Conservative Club, in the town centre, showcasing everything from Christmas cakes to bison sausages, and food co-operatives to recycling information.
Producers and retailers were able to talk to visitors about the values of their produce and how to obtain the best from it, and there were also cookery demonstrations by local chefs, compered by ITV West presenter Peter Rowell.
Produce was also on sale and one estimate put the value of sales on the day at approaching a staggering £100,000, plus whatever else was spent in the town itself.
The flood of visitors into Wellington for the day meant public car parks were much busier than usual, and many other businesses in the town centre also benefited from the extra footfall, with some extending their opening hours to cope with the additional volume of customers.
Now, the food town steering group is turning its thoughts to a series of events in 2007, culminating in a planned two-day food festival in the early autumn.
Wellington Food Town steering group chairman John Cottrell said: “The response for our launch event was simply breathtaking.
“By anybody’s reckoning we have made an excellent start with the initiative and we are all delighted with the incredible turnout of visitors.
“We have achieved everything we set out to do initially, which is to put Wellington’s food firmly on the map by drawing people into the town from a wide area to see and sample the top quality range of produce available in the catchment zone, while at the same time creating an opportunity for all the other businesses in the town to benefit from extra trade.
“The launch will have a long-lasting effect because many of the producers have generated inquiries from people who will come back to buy from them again and again.
“We were also pleased to see so many visitors being encouraged to look around the town while they were here and I know some of the shops were so busy that they could not close when they normally would.
“This was just a ‘taster’ for the Food Town brand and we plan to build on this success with more events throughout the coming year.
“I would like to praise everybody who took part and helped in the launch and also to invite them all to attend a ‘thank you’ reception which we will hold toward the end of January, when we will start to talk in more detail about the 2007 series of events.”
The Wellington Food Town catchment area takes in much of Somerset and a large chunk of Devon, an containing eight Rick Stein Food Heroes and dozens of other award-winning producers.
Wellington Food Town is organised by Wellington Economic Partnership in conjunction with Taunton Deane Borough Council and Wellington Town Council, and is supported by Wellington Chamber of Commerce and Trade, Wellington Farmers’ Market, and Somerset Food Links.
More information is available from Nicky Saunter at Somerset Food Links on 01458 241401 or email nickys@foodlinks.org.uk or by logging on to www.wellingtonfoodtown.blogspot.com.

• Our photographs show (left) Wellington Economic Partmership chairman John Pragnell with a Wellington Food Town reuseable shopping bag, and (right) French chefs Denis Guillemin and Patrick Robert giving a cookery demonstration under the watchful eye of compere Peter Rowell, from ITV West.

TV presenter hosts Food Town launch event


There will be an international flavour to the launch of Wellington Food Town on Saturday, December 2, with Turkish, French, and Indian chefs joining their English counterparts to give free expert cookery demonstrations.
There is also an opportunity for visitors to meet ITV West presenter Peter Rowell, who is compering the launch event’s cookery theatre throughout the day from 10 am to 4 pm.
This is all in addition to up to 40 local producers putting on displays of their foods and drinks which will be available for the public to sample for free or to purchase for Christmas.
The cookery theatre features a full-scale mobile kitchen complete with large overhead television screens for a seated audience of more than 100 to watch and take part in demonstrations and workshops.
One of the demonstrations is by French chef Denis Guillemin, well-known around Wellington for using his culinary skills for private parties in people’s homes. He has been working in England for the past 10 years, mostly in the Westcountry and the Cotswolds in prestigious hotel-restaurants with three and four AA rosettes and Michelin stars.
Another Frenchman is Patrick Robert, from Britanny, who used to own Café Noir, in Wellington, and who now cooks at Hestercombe House. He also runs furniture business Touchwood and Little Rascals for babies and children, in Wellington’s Fore Street.
Mignon Johnson will be cooking up an Indian breakfast with her Saffron Kitchen, which is well-known on the farmers market circuit and for catering for special events.
Turkish chef Hanife Ahmed will prepare one of her country’s traditional dishes but will use ingredients which she has sourced from local producers.
The English contingent includes Mike Davis, the award-winning chef at Bindon Country House, Langford Budville, and formerly of the Castle Hotel, Taunton, where he trained with celebrity television chef Phil Vickery, with whom he still occasionally works.
Also taking part is the present owner of Café Noir, Dennis Turner, who is passionate about sourcing his produce locally and who will be cooking a local dish for visitors to try.
Some of the principal characters from Wellington Pantomime Group’s production of Cinderella will also be at the Food Town launch to meet visitors and tell them about their forthcoming show, which starts at the Wellesley Theatre on January 23.
The Food Town launch has become a community event with local scouts, dairy milkmen, town councillors, members of Wellington Camera Club, and local musicians the Thunderbridge Bluegrass Boys and Skintight Samba Band all pitching in to take part on the day or to help with leafleting and posters.
The launch event, being held in a marquee off Wellington town centre, will kick-start a five-year project to turn Wellington into the ‘Food Town’ of Somerset, in the same way as Ludlow is recognised as the Food Town of the Midlands.
Wellington Food Town steering group chairman John Cottrell said: “We want as many people as possible to come along to this completely free event and try out the fabulous variety of local produce which will be on show.
“Then, we hope they will come back again and again as we put on more events during 2007, all of which will help to benefit everybody who is in business in the area and thereby help to create more jobs for local people.”
Wellington Food Town is being organised by Wellington Economic Partnership and Somerset Food Links in conjunction with Taunton Deane Borough Council and Wellington Town Council, which are giving financial support, and it is also being supported by Wellington Chamber of Commerce and Trade, and the Wellington Farmers’ Market.
More information is available from Nicky Saunter at Somerset Food Links on 01458 241401 or email nickys@foodlinks.org.uk or by logging on to www.wellingtonfoodtown.blogspot.com.

• Our photograph shows French chef Denis Guillemin at work preparing food for a party in a private house.

Community helping Wellington Food Town launch

Twelve thousand leaflets are being delivered to homes and businesses in and around Wellington as part of a campaign to raise awareness of the launch of Wellington Food Town on December 2.

Town councillors, local scouts, local dairy milkmen, and even some of the Cinderella characters from the local pantomime group have all offered their help as the community rallies round to make sure as many people as possible know about the launch event.

The leaflets invite people to go along to the December 2 launch, which is being held on the morning after Wellington’s Christmas lights are officially switched on.

Visitors will be able to enjoy free tastings of some of the best foods and drinks produced in the Food Town catchment area and can also take the opportunity to stock up for Christmas.

The occasion will be a launch pad for a project running over the next five years to turn Wellington into the ‘Food Town’ of Somerset, in the same way as Ludlow is recognised as the Food Town of the Midlands.

The mouthwatering launch occasion will be held in a large marquee off Wellington High Street from 10 am to 4 pm.

The marquee will house around 40 stalls for local food producers and suppliers who will be giving away food and drink samples and talking to visitors about their products and will seat more than 100 people for expert demonstrations and workshops by several local chefs, including sessions on how to make healthy lunchboxes for schoolchildren and interesting ideas for party food.

Wellington Food Town steering group chairman John Cottrell said: “I am delighted with the support we are receiving from our local community, which all helps to ensure the launch event is going to be a resounding success.

“The response from producers and retailers has been fantastic, while other types of businesses are quickly realising that we are all going to benefit by attracting more people to visit Wellington and to shop and buy services here.

“In the longer-term, the Food Town concept will encourage a healthier retail and service economy in Wellington, which will mean more local jobs, more tourists and regular visitors, a thriving local agricultural economy, and a more attractive and appealing town centre.”

As well as showcasing the fabulous range and quality of produce in the Wellington area, the launch will kick-start a series of other food-based events in the town planned for 2007.

Wellington Food Town is being organised by Wellington Economic Partnership and Somerset Food Links in conjunction with Taunton Deane Borough Council and Wellington Town Council, which are giving financial support, and it is also being supported by Wellington Chamber of Commerce and Trade, and the Wellington Farmers’ Market.

More information is available from Nicky Saunter at Somerset Food Links on 01458 241401 or email nickys@foodlinks.org.uk or by logging on to http://www.wellingtonfoodtown.blogspot.com/.
Our photographs show: 1) Wellington Food Town steering group chairman John Cottrell with some of the 75,000 pints of milk produced weekly at his Gundenham Dairy, Langford Budville; 2) Don Jones fish shop proprietor Steve Freeman (left) with Sam Cunningham (centre) and Conrad Fielding in their award-winning shop in Cornhill, Wellington.

Local producers join Food Town launch

Producers and retailers from Mid Devon are taking part in the official launch of a Food Town project in Somerset.

Their produce will be showcased at the event in Wellington on Saturday, December 2, from 10 am to 4 pm, where visitors can enjoy free samples of foods and drinks.

Among those involved are Tom and Chris Gabriel, who run Little Pirzwell Natural Meats, in Kenrisbeare, Cullompton, which produces red ruby beef and native-breed lamb for boxes of meat.

Also taking part is Culm Valley Organic Vegetables, in Uffculme, run by Suzie and Carol Farley, who produce organice vegetables for boxes which can be delivered to the door or bought at farmers’s markets.

Bridget Brassey, who runs BZ Bees in Cruwys Morchard, is another who will be represented at the event, which will showcase the honey and bees wax products she has been producing from her 15 colonies of bees for the past 12 years, especially the smaller-size jars of honey which larger producers tend not to supply.

At Redhill Farm, Burlescombe, Andrew Harvey and wife Felicity Shakespear have enjoyed a record season with 100 tons of fruit harvested from the 350 varieties of apples in their orchard of 2,000-plus trees.

These go into 8,000 bottles of apple juice which are sold at farmers markets and in local retailers, and which will be represented at the Food Town event.

The launch will kick-start a five-year initiative to brand Wellington as the ‘Food Town’ of Somerset, in the same way as Ludlow is recognised as the ‘Food Town’ of the Midlands.

The catchment area takes in much of Somerset and a large chunk of Devon, an area which boasts no fewer than eight Rick Stein Food Heroes as well as dozens of other award-winning producers.

Visitors to Wellington on December 2 will be able to enjoy free tastings of some of the best foods and drinks produced in the area and can also take the opportunity to stock up for Christmas. Parking in the town’s car parks will also be free on the day.

The free event will be held in a town centre marquee with around 40 stalls for food producers and a seated area for more than 100 people where expert demonstrations and workshops will be held by several local chefs, including sessions on how to make healthy lunchboxes for schoolchildren and interesting ideas for party food.

Wellington Food Town steering group chairman John Cottrell said: “We hope as many residents as possible from Mid Devon will come along on December 2 and enjoy what promises to be a wonderful celebration of some of the finest produce the Westcountry has to offer.

“By supporting the Food Town concept, visitors will be encouraging a healthier retail and service economy for the area, which will mean more local jobs, more tourists and regular visitors, and a thriving local agricultural economy.”

Wellington Food Town is being organised by Wellington Economic Partnership and Somerset Food Links in conjunction with Taunton Deane Borough Council and Wellington Town Council, and is supported by Wellington Chamber of Commerce and Trade and the Wellington Farmers’ Market.

More information is available from Nicky Saunter at Somerset Food Links on 01458 241401 or email nickys@foodlinks.org.uk or by logging on to www.wellingtonfoodtown.blogspot.com

Our photographs show: 1) Andrew Harvey and wife Felicity Shakespear with some of the 350 varieties of apple tree in their orchards at Redhill Farm, Burlescombe; 2) Suzie (left) and Carol Farley with a box or organic vegetables at Culm Valley Organic Vegetables.

VIPs sample Wellington Food Town produce

Some of the produce which will shortly be available at Wellington Food Town’s launch event on December 2 has been showcased to an audience of tourism trade VIPs.

Sheppys Cider Mill, in Bradford on Tone, which will be exhibiting at the Wellington Food Town event, was the toast of the Visit Britain stand at the World Travel Market.

David and Louisa Sheppy stepped in when Somerset County Council’s tourism department was asked by the World Travel Market to help with a cider tasting to extol the virtues of British food and drink.

Their stand showcased some of Sheppy’s award-winning produce to a high-profile audience of VIPs and visitors to the event.

Mr Sheppy said: “We were delighted to help out Somerset Tourism and give people, at this important event a chance to see and taste for themselves one of the products that makes Somerset famous – cider.”

The county council’s economic development portfolio holder, Councillor Paul Buchanan, said: “When we were asked by Visit Britain to organise the tasting we jumped at the chance as we saw it as a great way to show the world that Somerset is a quality destination with superb local produce to shout about.

“The World Travel Market is a major event in the tourism trade calendar and we are very grateful to Sheppy’s cider who acted as effective ambassadors for Somerset.”

Many visitors came to see what Somerset has to offer on the Visit Britain stand.

Much interest was shown by journalists, tour operators, and other VIPs including Lord King of Bridgwater, the former MP for Bridgwater, who attended the tasting event to show his support for Somerset.

Our photograph shows David Sheppy (left) talking with Lord King of Bridgwater at the World Travel Market in London.

Wellington takes first Food Town steps

The first step toward making Wellington the ‘Food Town’ of Somerset will be taken next month with a food extravaganza in the town centre.

The Wellington Food Town steering group is organising a mouthwatering launch occasion on Saturday December 2 from 10 am to 4 pm.
Dozens of local food producers and suppliers will take part, under cover of a giant marquee, and they will be giving away food and drink samples for the public to taste.

There will also be expert cookery demonstrations and workshops to educate and show people how best to prepare and enjoy their meals.

The Food Town launch will showcase the fabulous range and quality of produce in the area and will be a launch pad for a series of events planned in 2007.

As well as showing local residents the huge variety and scope of foodstuffs available on their doorstep, it will also draw in thousands of visitors for the day and benefit other businesses in the town.

Wellington Food Town will build on the existing rich heritage of food production in and around the town, which has many successful and award-winning businesses.

There are no fewer than eight Rick Stein Food Heroes in the catchment area, including Wallace’s, on the Blackdown Hills, which produces Aberdeen angus and bison meat and has an award-winning farm shop business.

Other awards heaped upon Food Town businesses include the BBC Radio 4 ‘Best Food Producer’ title for Gundenham Dairy, at Langford Budville, and both The Times and Waitrose ‘Small Producer of the Year Awards’ which went to Fenton Farm Poultry, in Holcombe Rogus.

Wellington Food Town steering group chairman John Cottrell said: “While the focus is on the excellence of food products which are available locally, it is important to realise that we are seeking to bring benefits to the whole range of businesses in the town.

“We want to include everybody in what is going on and we welcome any suggestions people may have.

“We look forward to as many as possible joining us for the other events which are being planned for 2007.

“This launch event is just the start of something much bigger which we intend to make into an annual occasion and to carry on throughout the calendar year.”

Wellington Food Town is being organised by Somerset Food Links in conjunction with Taunton Deane Borough Council and Wellington Economic Partnership and is being supported by Wellington Town Council, Wellington Chamber of Commerce and Trade, and the Wellington Farmers’ Market.

Our photograph shows award-winning Wellington butcher Tim Potter with some of his traditional large pork sausages, which won a Meat and Livestock Commission ‘Gold Award’ for excellence in meat products, and a recent addition to his stock – chicken parcels, which are boneless chicken legs filled with spinach and sage and onion stuffing or stuffed with sausage meat and wrapped in smoky streaked bacon.

FOOD lovers will be heading to Wellington next month for the launch event of Wellington Food Town.
The event on Saturday December 2 is to be held in a large marquee off High Street at the back of the Conservative Club and it is hoped will attract 'foodies' from all over the area.
There will be between 30 and 40 stalls including food producers, retailers and other traders offering a variety of goods between 10 am and 4pm.
Wellington Food Town is an initiative that seeks to establish Wellington as a premier Food Town.
Wellington will become known as a location for top quality food, farmed and produced by local farmers, and sold at quality and specialist retailers, restaurants and hotels.
Town council chairman Dave Mitton said the idea of establishing Wellington as a Food Town would involve it becoming the outlet for local food producers and being developed as a place known for the excellence of its food and drink.