Submitted by Lucy Johnson
Devon Farm Kitchen has two reasons to celebrate having been awarded a prestigious Taste of the West Gold Award in the online retail category, with the accolade coinciding with the social enterprise’s first anniversary celebrations.
Based at the Rowcroft Hospice at Torquay, Devon Farm Kitchen specialises in delivering exceptional meals throughout South Devon. Since it was established a year ago, it has gone from strength to strength and now delivers across a huge area area stretching from Tavistock in the west to Teignmouth and Exminster in the east, Salcombe in the south and Okehampton in the north and including the whole of Dartmoor.
More than 17,000 meals have been delivered to date fulfilling an important service for local people, particularly the elderly and vulnerable, who may be unable to prepare healthy meals for themselves. All profits from Devon Farm Kitchen go to support Rowcroft Hospice in caring for patients with life-limiting illnesses, and their families.
General manager Joe Bradshaw says: “We’re over the moon.The Taste of the West awards recognise the very best food and drink producers across the South West. The judges described our website, communication, delivery and the quality of our meals as ‘excellent’ and after just a year of trading this is a fantastic achievement for the team here at Devon Farm Kitchen.
“We’re so proud of everyone who worked so hard to make this happen. We’d also like to thank our amazing customers for their incredible support in purchasing our deliciously satisfying frozen meals and helping to raise vital funds for Rowcroft Hospice.”
The meals are handmade in small batches by Devon Farm Kitchen’s own chefs in their Torquay kitchen using the finest produce sourced directly from Devon’s farmers, fishing communities and other local producers. The menu boasts a mouth-watering selection of tasty soups, starters, mains.
Unusually, they are also delivered on ceramic plates, which are returned to the delivery driver, in cardboard packaging that’s 100% carbon neutral, fully compostable and 100% recyclable.
Commenting on their meals, the Taste of the West judges said: “When delivered, the quality of the meals was excellent, we had six different main meals, one soup and three desserts. They all looked well presented, the real plate was a nice touch, and we really enjoyed all of the food we ordered. All of the meals were great value for money.
“The meals used local produce and their local suppliers were well advertised both on their descriptions and in the ‘about us’ section on meeting the suppliers.”
Taste of the West has been promoting and supporting the South West food and drink industry for 30 years and is the largest independent regional food group in the UK serving Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire.
To find out more about Devon Farm Kitchen or to place an order, please go to www.devonfarmkitchen.co.uk or call 01803 217 477.
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