Taste of the West, the UK’s largest independent regional food group, has launched a partnership with regional accountancy group Bishop Fleming and law firm Trowers & Hamlins to help raise the profile of the thriving South West food and drink sector.
The firms will act as Taste of the West’s title sponsors for the next 18 months, working alongside it on its annual Taste of the West Awards, the most prestigious food and drink awards programme in the region. 
They will also promote a series of in-depth conferences to support and represent the regional food and drink industry.
Bishop Fleming has one of its eight offices in Bath while London-headquartered Trowers & Hamlins also has an office in Exeter.
Established in 1991, Taste of the West promotes and supports food and drink producers across the South West.
Its near 1,100 producer and hospitality members are also includes firms across the hotels and leisure sectors, as well as holiday parks and those in the agriculture sector.
The Taste of the West Awards have been promoting and supporting the region’s food and drink industry for 30 years, covering three main categories – hospitality, retail and product.
The 2023 awards process is underway, with more than 1,200 food and drink products and dozens of restaurants and venues being assessed by the team of judges. 
Bishop Fleming partner and head of food & drink Fleur Lewis, pictured, said: “We are excited about the possibilities that this partnership brings, and we look forward to collaborating with Taste of the West and Trowers to help nurture economic growth, create new opportunities, and cultivate a stronger, more sustainable food and drink ecosystem in the South West.”
Trowers & Hamlins corporate partner Stuart Mathews added: “Trowers has had an office in the region for 38 years and we are deeply committed to supporting local businesses and our community.
“We are also passionate about championing local success and through this new partnership with Taste of the West and Bishop Fleming we have the chance to raise the profile of the thriving South West food and drink industry, as well as identifying and helping address the many issues the industry faces in the current economic and environmental situation.
“Our local food and drink is widely recognised as some of the best globally and we’re delighted to be involved in helping further that recognition and the brilliant firms that work so hard to put their produce on our tables.”
Taste of the West chief executive John Sheaves said the organisation has spent more than 30 years developing the sector into a unique, vibrant and much sought after industry.
“Food and drink businesses from this region now play a significant role in our domestic food supply chains, our regional tourism offer and perhaps more importantly contribute greatly to the region’s sustainability – so important as we tackle climate change over the next few years,” he said.
“While this work over the last 30 years or so has been instrumental in putting regional food and drink on the map, we now need to raise the profile of this sector even higher.
“As we push out further and deliver our business plan for the next two years, I cannot think of two better partners to help us achieve our aims than Trowers & Hamlins and Bishop Fleming.”
Bishop Fleming, which employs just under 500 people, including 40 partners, has a wealth of knowledge and experience in areas spanning personal tax, business & international tax, corporate finance, business recovery and insolvency, payroll services, forensic and litigation support, grant services, VAT, audit assurance and accounting.
Trowers & Hamlins has 150 partners and more than 900 employees in is offices throughout the UK, Middle East and Far East.
