Ingredients firm targets local sourcing cooperation

A company spokesperson said that although the group supplies purees and other fruit-based ingredients across the UK, it had decided to team up with the Taste of the West promotion group to play up the locally sourced angle on its ingredients. With growing pressure on processors to limit their environmental impacts, the ability to play-up local sourcing of ingredients to reduce the energy use from transportation of goods offers one way of attracting consumers. Public awareness is increasing on the damaging effect our lifestyles have on climate change, and food manufacturers are adapting in line with this, eager to demonstrate the steps they are taking to protect the environment. Through the promotion partnership, Cobell, which claims to already supply a number of Taste of the West's members, will be able to work with farmers, producers, chefs, caterers, distributors, wholesalers and retailers across the region for their ingredient needs. Group managing director Nick Sprague told FoodNavigator.com that the group is already was working with processors to find locally supplied ingredients. However, by working with promotion partnerships like Taste of the West, he claimed that it would be better placed to meet local demand in South West England in particular. Sprague said that local sourcing was defined as using ingredients within 30 to 40 miles of a processor as a means to ensure that a product can play up reduced carbon footprint and other local benefits He added that with the company itself based in the South West of England, the partnership would allow it to step up its link with local supplier sand manufacturers in the region. "Our business may be international but our roots are firmly based in​ Devon​, with our headquarters in​ Exeter​,"​ Sprague said. "So we're really delighted to become full members of Taste of the West, not least because we recognise them as the foremost organisation promoting the region's food industry."​