If you are an early stage food or drink business in Norfolk, the Broadland Food Innovation Centre project is offering free business support. When you’re growing your small business, the decision making never stops and the the challenge is knowing how to make the right decision at the right time. Do you have all the skills, knowledge and market information you need? Over the last year, the Centre’s experienced advisors have supported dozens of businesses in the region. From Ambry Foods Turkey bacon. Founded by ex River Cafe Chef Elliott Bloomfield, and his former clients, who had tasted turkey bacon in the States and realised it was delicious as well as lower in calories and fat than traditional pork bacon. But unable to find it in the UK, they began a lockdown project to develop their own recipe, using quality free-range turkey cured with sea salt and muscovado sugar and smoked in beechwood. Elliott hooked up with the Innovation Support team who provided 12-hours of free mentoring and business advice that helped him turn his idea into a business plan, to identify potential stockists in the Norfolk area and within 10 months they had launched Ambry Turkey Bacon in farm shops and delis across the region. He says: “The Innovation Support team provide an amazing free service, and I would encourage other food and drink businesses to take up the opportunity for support. If you are determined enough to launch or grow a food and drink business, you will get there, but the amazing support we’ve received has enabled us to do that more quickly than we would have on our own. It has enabled us to tap into an incredible network of people, and not only have they helped us to build a business plan, to secure funding to buy essential equipment and to approach Norfolk farm shops and delis. It’s really tough to break through with a new business, but the support we’ve received is helping us get there. If you are determined enough to launch or grow a food and drink business, you will get there, but the amazing support we’ve received has enabled us to do that more quickly than we would have on our own” Sisters Thorayya and Shifa Mears launched Oichi Kombucha during the Pandemic. They were driven to start a business that was ‘sustainable and good for people’ and passionate about food, flavours and cooking and had grown up drinking kombucha made by their mother and knew that it was delicious as well as good for your gut. They began making kombucha, a fermented tea with ingredients foraged from the Norfolk countryside. They recognised that there was an opportunity to reimagine kombucha and to make it a delicious drink which everyone would enjoy. Oichi Kombucha is now stocked in dozens of local independent retailers in the region. Thorayya says “Our business advisor has been so easy to talk to, approachable, non-judgemental and supportive. We’ve never run a small business before and the advice for start-up food and drink businesses through the Broadland Food Innovation Centre has been invaluable to us as we’ve grown from a home-based project to a fully-fledged business.” Meanwhile Katrina Ajomale started Crumpetorium producing artisan crumpets for sale in Norfolk farm shops and delis. Getting the business off the ground, hasn’t been without challenges for Kat. They want to keep the crumpets as natural as possible, so the big question was – how could they offer a good shelf-life without the use preservatives and plastic packaging? Kat says: “The Innovation Support team have been very supportive and easy to work with. They have taken time to understand my business and the challenges I face and helped me find simple and logical solutions. I would never have been able to afford this kind of expert advice if I’d approached a business consultant. I really valued that they helped me identify opportunities for new product development and new sales opportunities including the wedding catering market.” The purpose of this funded service is to help you make those sound decisions that lead to good results. It’s delivered by Hethel Innovation and forms one part of the whole Broadland Food Innovation Centre project. Eligible businesses will access a minimum of 12 hours of funded support. Eligible means you could be starting from scratch or have been established for a number of years. You build your bespoke support package with our Food Advisor, working out the priorities to overcome your challenges and access new opportunities. For example, reviewing your strategy, developing new products, accessing market insight. Further information https://www.foodinnovationbroadland.com/support Photo order: Ambry Foods, Bruha, Niche Cocktails, Oichi Kombucha, One planet Pizza, Farmyard, Prepking, and Crumpetorium
