The organisers of Burnham-On-Sea’s Food & Drink Festival have this week announced the three winners of their first festival bursary awards.
The Chilli Alchemist, Xocolat and The Spice Rocket are all new businesses taking their first steps into trading and who will each benefit from a free pitch at the autumn food and drink festival taking place on 28th September.
Jay Webley, the Chilli Alchemist, said: “I’m so pleased to be offered a bursary from Burnham Food & Drink Festival. It provides me with an opportunity to start building my customer base. Having invested heavily, the financial respite is most welcome and a brilliant idea that should be encouraged and adopted by other event organisers. I’m truly looking forward to the festival and being able to provide people with the opportunity to try something different, fiery and delicious, all with a little theatrical twist.”
Jay will be trading in Burnham’s Victoria Street, opposite to the chilli eating competition stage, at September’s event.
Mandy Gair of XocolaT, who will be trading inside the Princess Theatre, added: “We are delighted to have won the bursary and are looking forward to working with the festival team to promote XocolaT in the area as a brand new chocolate business. We are always developing new and exciting ranges and look forward to working with the festival towards a successful future.”
And Joe Thompson of Spice Rocket, who will be trading in Victoria Street, said: “Spice Rocket is a brand new street food business serving up fresh curries, snacks and salads lovingly-prepared using local and ethically sourced ingredients and infused with spices from around the world. We are delighted to have won a bursary and to be taking part in the Burnham on Sea food and drink festival. It is a wonderful opportunity for us and our fledgling business to gain vital experience and to get involved in the vibrant South West food scene, and to have some spicy fun!”
Festival Director Beverley Milner Simonds said: “Through the Food & Drink Festival we have shown our commitment to supporting local traders to build sustainable businesses and now we want to help new businesses make their first steps into trading. We recognise we have an opportunity to assist in developing the skills abilities and knowledge of all food and drink producers. We hope that visitors to the festival sample the new traders products and encourage them to continue.”
