13:53, 05 Aug 2025Updated 14:23, 05 Aug 2025<\/p>\n
![\"Fresh](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1_Fresh-homegrown-vegetables-and-fruits-on-kitchen-table-summer-harvest-still-life-table-top-view.jp.jpeg\")
Fresh homegrown vegetables and fruits(Image: istetiana via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
A Devon-based food group backed by the King collapsed into administration leaving debts of more than \u00a3440,000 – much of which is unlikely to be paid.<\/p>\n
Two companies running Taste of the West have ceased trading and documents filed at Companies House reveal that workers and small businesses are owed cash and a Covid loan has not been paid.<\/p>\n
Taste of the West was set up in 1991 and became the UK\u2019s largest independent regional food group with more than 1,000 paid-up patrons in Devon, Cornwall, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset, and Wiltshire. It ran a popular annual awards scheme and had King Charles III<\/a> as a patron.<\/p>\n But earlier this year, Taste of the West Ltd and its subsidiary Taste of the West Country CIC, both based in Whimple, near Exeter<\/a>, collapsed into administration<\/a> after becoming insolvent.<\/p>\n Administrators at Bristol-based SWBR were appointed at the High Court in Bristol and have now published proposals.<\/p>\n The documents reveal that Taste of the West Ltd is likely to have left no assets but had debts of more than \u00a3264,000.<\/p>\n These include \u00a348,000 owed to employees, \u00a317,000 in taxes, and a \u00a324,000 Bounce Back Loan (BBL), which was backed by the Government to help firms recover from the Covid<\/a> pandemic and lockdowns.<\/p>\n There is also \u00a384,200 owed to the subsidiary Taste of the West Country CIC.<\/p>\n That subsidiary company operated as the online retail presence and has estimated total assets available for creditors amounting to \u00a372,52.<\/p>\n But it owed 17 trade creditors a total of \u00a3175,388, including \u00a399,164 owed to Trewithen Dairy, in Lostwithiel, \u00a324,556 owed to Somerset Charcuterie and \u00a327,845 owed to Happy Butter Ltd, in Totnes<\/a>.<\/p>\n The administrators, in their proposals document, said: \u201cThe outcome for creditors is currently uncertain but it is hoped that debtor recoveries and the sale of the company’s intellectual property (IP) will allow for a distribution to unsecured creditors.\u201d It said they could receive 25p in the pound.<\/p>\n The IP sale is still being negotiated, the document said. But it also said the statement of affairs document, which lists assets and liabilities, does not include the cost of the administration, expected to be more than \u00a328,633, leaving a total deficiency to unsecured creditors of \u00a3131,498 in respect of the CIC. The limited company\u2019s creditors stand to receive nothing at all.<\/p>\n Taste of the West Ltd was set up in 1991 as a food and drink marketing and promotions company. Taste of the West Country CIC was established seven years later. Both companies have the same four directors: Andrew Freemantle, Shaun Vining, Paul Andrew and David Burnard.<\/p>\n But earlier this year, following the resignation of a senior member of staff, it became apparent to directors that both companies were insolvent and did not have sufficient cash to pay creditors. Furthermore, the limited company owed \u201csignificant\u201d arrears to a landlord which had started enforcement action to get the money back.<\/p>\n In the year to June 2023, the two companies had a combined turnover of \u00a3779,000, but made a combined operating loss of \u00a349,000.<\/p>\n Taste of the West members included food and drink producers, distributors, restaurants, caf\u00e9s, pubs, hotels, farm shops and specialty retailers and included some of the region\u2019s best-known names such as Bath and West Showground, Bishop Fleming, Bodmin Jail Hotel, Bovey Castle, Rockbeare Manor, The Horn Of Plenty, The Odd Wheel at Wembury, Riverford Field Kitchen, and Dartmoor<\/a> \u2019s Two Bridges Hotel.<\/p>\n Taste of the West\u2019s aim was to \u201cchampion food and drink producers in the West Country, as well as all the places that serve and sell them\u201d.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_TOTW_Gold_2017.jpg\")
A Taste of the West Gold Award<\/p>\n