Muntons PLC, the malt and related products company, joined forces with Choose Suffolk and other local businesses to brainstorm how the county could leverage more trade in the food & drink sector.

More than 30 delegates gathered at the company’s Cedars Maltings head office and production plant in Stowmarket for a Suffolk-focused food and drink sector brunch.

The popular event – ‘Defining a Market for Suffolk Produce’ – was organised by Choose Suffolk as part of its Enterprise Engagement Programme. It gave participants the chance to hear from leading producers and exponents of Suffolk food and drink and to discuss how to define a market for one of the county’s key sectors.

Alan Ridealgh, group MD of Muntons plc, said: “Suffolk has some great producers, manufacturers and retailers who are making sure we forge ahead with the county’s reputation as premier food and drink county.

“We need to continue building on the county’s rich agricultural heritage, unique environment and entrepreneurial attitude, and this Choose Suffolk event has been a constructive way of identifying opportunities for future sector growth.”

Delegates were given a behind-the-scenes tour of Muntons’ state-of-the-art production facility, which handles 80,000 tonnes of malt and 40,000 tonnes of malted ingredients a year, before visiting the company’s centre for excellence.

This purpose-built development facility, which was opened last year and houses a bakery, kitchen, brewery, winery, sensory suite and sample room, allows Muntons to work closely with customers to develop new products and explore innovations.

Attendees also heard presentations and case studies from some of the county’s leading food and drink exponents.
 
In the coming months, Choose Suffolk will be hosting two further sector brunches looking at the bioscience and niche business sectors. ‘Bioscience – An Evolving Sector for Suffolk’ will take place on February 16 at the Animal Health Trust in Newmarket, and ‘Celebrating the Success of Suffolk’s Distinctive Businesses’ is at Framlingham Technology Centre on March 16.

A dedicated Information and Communication Technology sector event in the spring is also being mapped out.