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.