Tastes of Anglia in co-operation with Essex County Council are organising a Local to Essex Meet the Buyer. The event will be held on Tuesday 16 September between 11am and 4pm in the Barley Barn at Cressing Temple. 

The Local to Essex event is part of a drive by both organisations to highlight the importance of using local produce and promoting it to the consumer, through the retail, tea shops, hotels, pubs and restaurants in the county. It aims to provide food and drink producers from Essex and the surrounding areas with tangible business development opportunities.

Tastes of Anglia and Essex County Council are working together to deliver a programme of events, which include some 1:1 business support helping small businesses understand what they need to do to compete, and what opportunities are available.

Julie West, Tastes of Anglia chief executive, said: “Offering them a really local event like this is an excellent way to focus the attention on Essex and its fantastic food and drink.

“The next step for these businesses will be to attend a regional event, such as Feast East, before joining the national show circuit in London. We are delighted to be working with Essex County Council on this development work.”

Cllr John Jowers, Essex County Council cabinet member for localism, added: “Essex has a great range of local produce that is as diverse as the county itself. We also have some very entrepreneurial producers who deserve the opportunity to display their ranges to a wider audience and to then go on to become successful Essex businesses. I would encourage them to come to this event.” 

Meet the buyer events are just some of the activities that Tastes of Anglia carries out to increase awareness of the region’s food and drink and to provide support to producers in the region through business development activities and marketing support.