Pretty Local, an online marketplace for food and drink producers in the South Hams, has been announced winner of this year’s Devon Business Start-Up Award.

The annual competition, organised by Dartmouth Food Festival, is open to new food-related businesses based in Devon that use local ingredients, products and / or suppliers.

The Award gives winners a substantial helping hand via a prize package which includes a range of marketing support, business guidance and promotional opportunities. 

Andrea Wilson, owner and founder of this year’s winner, Pretty Local, launched her business in February 2017 as a new and convenient way for shoppers to support local food and drink producers. 

“The South Hams offers a fantastic array of high quality food and drink products, but they can be complicated to get hold of on a weekly shopping trip and buying local produce can soon become an arduous task,” said Andrea.

“Pretty Local offers a solution by bringing local producers together under one virtual roof, creating an online marketplace that is quick and easy to use.” 

The market is updated weekly with new seasonal produce, offers and recipe ideas. Orders are taken up until midnight on Wednesday and delivered to customers homes on Friday.  Hundreds of products from over 40 local businesses are currently available to buy via the Pretty Local website. 

Sheila Shribman, Chairman of Dartmouth Food Festival, said: “Congratulations to Pretty Local! Our judges were won over by owner Andrea Wilson’s enthusiasm for helping people to engage with where their food comes from and her firm commitment to sustainability.

“We are delighted to offer Pretty Local a free three-day exhibitor pitch at the Dartmouth Food Festival in October as part of the prize and look forward to seeing the business go from strength to strength.” 

The prize package also includes a marketing health-check with the marketingshed, advice from a business start-up and financial expert, a tailored marketing and PR campaign run via the Dartmouth Food Festival social media and other channels, a half-day photo shoot with Original Image Photography and a double page spread in Taste Buds magazine. 

Andrea Wilson, owner of Pretty Local, said: “I am so thrilled to have won the Devon Business Start-up Award for 2018. It means so much to me to be able to showcase Pretty Local at the Dartmouth Food Festival, and to receive such huge support and guidance from a team of business, PR and marketing experts is invaluable to a small business like mine.” 

Visit Pretty Local’s stand at Dartmouth Food Festival from Friday to Sunday, October 19-21.