Catapult your business to retail superstardom

Are you the next aspiring food and drink entrepreneur? Do you make a product with the ‘wow’ factor but seek help and advice on how to get your artisan produce to market? If so, The Shops at Dartington has the competition for you and could help springboard you to retail success. Their new competition, ‘Route to Market’ will launch at the sixth The Shops at Dartington Food Fair on Sunday 29th and Monday 30th May.

For small, micro businesses dreaming of retail success, this could be the competition for you. The winner of ‘Route to Market’ will not only be stocked in ‘The Food Shop’ or ‘Devon Drinks’ for a year, but will also gain invaluable advice and expertise from managing director of The Shops at Dartington, Barbara King. A director of Food & Drink Devon, Barbara’s prolific career in senior retail positions across the world makes her perfect to be on hand throughout the process to offer her expert guidance. Whether it’s direction regarding packaging and shelf appeal, marketing and design or just help and support, the winner will receive it all as part of the competition journey. They will also receive a day's PR support from Devon-based food and drink PR agency RAW.

Commenting on ‘Route to Market’, Barbara King, says: “Here at The Shops at Dartington we stock the finest of Devon’s food and drink producers and are extremely proud to shout about the region’s creativity and innovation.” Barbara continues: “It is not easy for micro businesses to successfully launch new products and gain access to the market, even if their products are fantastic. It’s through my experiences in the retail sector and having seen small artisan businesses struggle that has driven me to launch this competition. I’m very excited to see the companies and range of products that we receive in the competition process and can’t wait to find the next retail superstar to stock in our shops.”

To enter, companies must be Devon-based and simply need to send a sample of their product along with an overview of their company to Barbara King at The Shops at Dartington or email danielle@rawprandmarketing.co.uk for further information. Entries must be received by Friday 8th July 2016.

At the Food Fair not only will ‘Route to Market’ launch but there’s also an incredible array of artisan delicacies from over forty producers. Celebrating the very best of Devon, and held in association with Food & Drink Devon, there’ll be the county’s finest food and drink producers including New Lion Brewery, Bell & Loxton, Riverford Organic Farms, Lisette's Artisan Confectionery, Good Game, Cootealicious and Luscombe Drinks as well as many more.

Fascinating workshops and demonstrations will be taking place across the two days with TV chef, Mal Harradine, chef proprietor of The Curator Kitchen, Matteo Lamaro, The Devon Scone Company’s highly acclaimed Richard Hunt, head chef at the multi-award winning Millbrook Inn JP Bidart, fish workshops with Favis of Salcombe and Exeter Cookery School's Jim Fisher, and an enlightening double act with Exeter Golf & Country Club’s head chef Adam Little and sous chef Ben Corcutt. Rachel Lambert is back for a second year after her hugely successful foraging workshops and Devon Life Home Cook of the Year finalist, Sue Stoneman will be teaching all how to make a mango and passionfruit roulade and savoury choux puffs.

A weekend for all the family, there’ll be magic shows with Cosmo the clown, activities in the Craft tent, ‘learn how to throw a pot’ classes and courses in Tanner Bates’ leather workshop as well as live folk and jazz music.

A group of 14 shops and cafes, located in a beautiful rural setting in what were once farm buildings, The Shops at Dartington is a passionate believer in supporting Devon’s economy, producers, craftsmen and artists. A philosophy which is clearly visible through the vast selection on offer in ‘The Food Shop’, ‘Devon Drinks’, ‘Glass Gallery’ and ‘The Craft Gallery’ as well as the Crazy About Clay and Tanner Bates workshops. The Shops at Dartington specialise in unusual, unique items and offers an array of gifts to make you go wow. Whether you’re looking for beautiful craft, pottery and glass collections such as renowned Dartington Crystal or stylish women’s and men’s accessories including locally made fine and fashion jewellery, The Shops at Dartington has it all.

Owned by the Dartington Hall Trust, an independent charitable organisation, trading ethically and sustainably as a social enterprise, The Shops at Dartington help support the Trust’s activities in social justice, sustainability and the arts.

For further information on The Shops at Dartington Food Fair visit www.dartingtonfoodfair.org, follow @Shopdartington on Twitter and ‘Like’ on Facebook.