Each week Bath Business News gives a prominent member of the city’s business community the last word on its weekly e-bulletin. This week Helen Rich, founder and managing director of Bath-based hamper company Taste of Bath, answers our 10 questions.
What was the LAST:
Film you watched? The latest James Bond film No Time To Die at the fabulous Tivoli Cinema in Bath. No spoilers here, but you simply have to watch it!
Book you read? Still Life by Sarah Winman. I am an avid reader and big supporter of Bath’s brilliant independent bookshop Mr B’s Emporium. This book is beautifully written, a heart-warming read based in post-War Florence.
Music you bought/downloaded? Gregory Porter’s Nat ‘King’ Cole & Me – I am a total jazz fanatic and Gregory Porter has a voice like treacle.
Concert or play you went to see? I’m not really a live music kind of gal, but we have a few trips to the Theatre Royal planned in November! Can’t wait!
Sporting event you attended? I love going to watch Bath Rugby play at home and have multiple trips planned with my husband and dad. Come on Bath!
Holiday you went on? My favourite place in the world is Scotland. We spent two weeks this August/September travelling around the northern highlands. Seafood, whisky and walking – what’s not to love?
Restaurant you ate in? Pintxo de Bath. My extended family and I had a cracking visit recently – a game of boules in Queen Square followed by pintxos and port in the garden. It felt like being in the Basque country.
Thing that annoyed you? Bath Christmas Market being cancelled! The decision was made very late, which really lets down local producers and the local hospitality industry.
Thing that made you laugh out loud? I had a pedicure recently and I have very ticklish feet!
Piece of good advice you were given? Just because you can does not mean you should. I now focus entirely on happiness, integrity in business and following my gut.
A former retail trouble-shooter, Helen launched her first business, Rich Pickings: Pates and Terrines, in 2013. Having taught herself butchery so that she could make everything from scratch, her recipes were an instant hit and she became known in Bath as ‘The Pate Lady’ by her many regular customers! Helen’s mission in setting up this business was to gain experience and insight prior to launching her ‘big idea’: Taste of Bath, an online shop connecting those wanting to shop local with local food producers. Originally launched in 2015, The Taste of Group now employs eight people, has two warehouses and supports 35 local food producers with significant wholesale channels. Offering an online hamper shop and a ‘Create Your Own Hamper’ service, Taste of Bath has become the go-to for birthdays, Christmas and care packages, as well as providing a vital platform for smaller producers to reach a wider audience. The biggest area of growth has been business services. Taste of Bath has been recognised as Bath’s market leader for an outstanding and original business gifting service, which now works with more than 160 businesses. Helen was awarded Business Person of The Year at the Bath Business Awards, and Taste of Bath was named ‘Bath’s best business service’ by the Bath Life Awards. Now an established local figure, Helen is known for her love of networking and mentoring those at the start of their business journey! www.taste-of.co.uk
