An organisation working to raise Devon’s culinary profile has appointed four new directors to its board. Newton Abbott-based Food Drink Devon represents Devon’s food and drink producers, retailers, hospitality venues and related businesses, and has 350 members.

The community interest company has elected Clare Bushby, managing director of Clockwork Marketing; chef and hospitality consultant Richard Hunt; Tim Ball, co-founder and director of Bar Buoy; and Tom Lomas; head of retail and hospitality at the Greendale Group.

The new board directors join chair Greg Parsons, managing director of Sharpham Cheese; vice chair Mike Young; and fellow directors Tom Chartres-Moore, Susy Atkins, Lola Grogan, Jack Pickering, Pete Falloon and Amanda Stansfield.

Mr Parsons said: “Food Drink Devon is excited to welcome four new members to its board. Clare, Tom, Richard and Tim all bring with them a wealth of experience and ideas for the future to help the organisation and its members thrive.

“Despite the challenges the food, drink and hospitality industry has faced over the last few years, we are all optimistic about the future and are committed to supporting each other via Food Drink Devon’s incredible network of producers, hospitality businesses, retailers and supporter businesses.”

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Mr Hunt said helping to promote Devon’s “tremendous food larder” and “wonderful producers” was “an honour and a privilege”. He said: “[It’s] a great way to showcase the best of what we do here in Devon to the rest of the UK and beyond.”

Mr Ball added: “The region is full of amazing entrepreneurs creating fantastic food and drink for us all to enjoy. I hope that I will be able to share some of my experience to help support the board and members of Food Drink Devon to flourish.”