Businesswomen promote Sussex’s food and drink

Paula Seager of Natural PR, and Hilary Knight, MD of the Sussex Food and Drink Network and former head of A Taste of Sussex, have formed Natural Partnerships CIC, a not for profit venture managing projects that will benefit local food and agricultural businesses.

The first project the duo will jointly manage is the prestigious Sussex Food and Drink Awards, which helps promote local food and drink businesses, and is being transferred from Natural PR.

Paula said: “Hilary and I have always informally worked together to run the awards, which have been hugely successful, growing every year in profile and proving to be a hit in terms of boosting the sales and success of our winners and finalists, as well as promoting our local produce outside of Sussex,”

Hilary added: “We also intend to work on other schemes and projects which benefit the rural economy and local food and drink producers, raising awareness and building the market locally and further afield for our fantastic produce.

“With the current horsemeat scandal, people are more concerned than ever about buying local, traceable food and drink and our projects can help local businesses and local consumers find each other. We are still looking for sponsors for the Sussex Food & Drink Awards, including for our Sussex Butcher of the Year category, which is more pertinent than ever in view of recent events.”

This year’s Food and Drink Awards nominations open this month. Visit www.sussexfoodawards.biz