Small, local businesses were given advice and guidance at Finditin Worcestershire’s annual event, Food and Drink Special: Recipe for Success.

The event at Sixways Stadium gave food and drink producers an opportunity to engage with key organisations in the industry.

Scott Whitaker, branch manager at Waitrose Worcester opened the event and explained how the supermarket was willing to champion regional suppliers.

He said: “SALSA is a UK food safety certification scheme for smaller producers.

“Waitrose fully endorses the principles of the scheme which is designed to offer both mentoring and auditing to ensure safe and legal products, giving Waitrose assurance of product compliance.

“It is important to us that we have a local flavour on our shelves but equally important is that the businesses know exactly what they need to do to become retail-ready for any supermarket.”

Bonnie Joplin, SALSA’s development manager explained the scheme to visitors.

The Friday Beer Company, which sells its bottled range at Waitrose, also presented at the event explaining that after securing funding from the Worcestershire Business Loan Fund it was able to tap into new supermarkets.

Gerald Williams, one of its three directors, said: “We would definitely recommend the Worcestershire Business Loan Fund and BCRS Business Loans to any growing business.”

The fund offers loans from £10,000 up to £50,000.

Lorna Jeynes, the Business Growth and Engagement manager at Worcestershire County Council, said: “I love this event. Food and Drink is at the very heart of our county and it was a fantastic celebration of our local producers and a great show case for the support that is available to increase production and to get our counties products on the shelves of national retailers”.

The event was held on Tuesday, July 17.