25.11.05
New cash for Cornish food renaissance

The Cornish food industry is celebrating a new injection of cash into the grant scheme widely credited with sparking the Cornish food renaissance of the last few years.

Just under £1million is being invested in the Food and Drink Marketing Grants Scheme, administered by Cornwall Taste of the West under the Objective One Programme.

Over the last four years the scheme has processed more than 400 applications with a total project value of just over £2m. Increased sales generated as a direct result of grant-funded projects have now topped £10million, while the scheme can also be credited with the creation of 194 full time jobs and the development of 32 new projects.

"This is a very exciting development for the Cornish food industry," says Angie Coombs, manager of Cornwall Taste of the West. "Businesses that have received grants and invested in marketing have undeniably performed better.

"The Cornish food industry is worth a lot more now than it was four years ago because businesses have been able to properly invest in promoting themselves and developing new markets, mainly thanks to our Marketing Grants Scheme. It's inspired a level of confidence and creativity that's the envy of every other region in the UK, and this further investment means even more Cornish food businesses can benefit."

The Marketing Grants Scheme provides grants of up to 50 per cent for a range of marketing activities, including market research, brand development, promotional literature, website development, packaging design, shows and exhibition materials. The maximum total project value is £150,000, £75,000 of which could be funded. So far grants made have ranged from just £70 to £51,000.

The scheme will now be operating until September 2007, though all applications will need to be in by winter 2006 in order to be processed and fulfilled by the end date.

Cornwall Taste of the West is now keen to receive new grant applications from food producers, retailers, restaurants and cafes in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. To be eligible, businesses must be based in the Objective One area; process, produce or sell quality food and drink using Cornish ingredients; and demonstrate that the investment will benefit the area's farmers and growers.

For more press information please contact Veronica Newport on 01363 866927 or email veronica@n-pr.co.uk.

Investment strapline

Editor's notes:

Taste of the West in Cornwall is a £5million Objective One gateway project, funded by the European Agricultural Guarantee and Guidance Fund (EAGGF), the Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) and private matched funding. It is part of the Taste of the West regional food group. Taste of the West's Cornwall project includes a trade development programme, a marketing grant scheme and a capital grants scheme, available to small and medium sized food businesses which produce, sell or process foods in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. For more information log on to www.cornwalltasteofthewest.co.uk.

Clare Morgan
Media Relations Manager
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Mobile: 07973 813647
Telephone: 01872 223439

cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk

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