It’s been a full (and very exciting!) month behind the scenes at Tastebuds Collective. From international collaborations and member growth to new systems and partnerships, we’ve been busy building opportunities for our members and the wider supply chain.
Welcoming Deakin University Students
This Monday, we kicked off a brilliant new collaboration with students from Deakin University, Australia. Over the next two weeks, they’ll be working with three of our members — Kraken Bakes, Beantastic Hummus, and Eufloria — on projects to help them grow to the next level. It’s an incredible opportunity for knowledge-sharing across continents and for our members to gain fresh perspectives and innovative ideas.
Behind the Scenes: Smarter Systems
We’ve been working hard on improving our internal systems and automating member communications — so you’ll receive more timely updates, opportunities, and insights without missing a thing. These changes will make it even easier for members to stay connected and make the most of everything Tastebuds has to offer.
New Members & Sponsor Conversations
We’ve also been busy meeting with lots of new members and potential sponsors. It’s inspiring to see so many people and organisations eager to support our region’s food and drink sector. Not only that, we have a large percentage of members renewing their membership to stay with Tastebuds to grow and innovate their businesses. We are thankful to those that wish to renew and stay in the community.
If you'd like to join as a member or become a sponsor to help strengthen the local supply chain, we would love to hear from you.
Creative Collaboration with Norwich University of the Arts
This month we officially launched our exciting collaboration networking event with Norwich University of the Arts — bringing together businesses and creatives to explore new ideas in branding, packaging, and design. This initiative aims to help local producers rebrand, refresh, and reach new markets with the help of talented emerging designers. Join us for the evening of 2nd December to learn more and network.
Distributor Collaboration Project
We’re also developing a brand-new distributor offering with one of our members. Imagine the savings (and sustainability benefits!) if Tastebuds members could share distributors and pallets, while also gaining access to new buyers with links across London, Leeds, Wales, Scotland, and beyond.
Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting initiative in the coming weeks!
Advisory Board Success
Our latest Advisory Board meeting was a huge success. The board agreed that we’re focusing on the right priorities to support members and the wider food and drink ecosystem — with some great insights and guidance to help us push even further.
Showcasing Member Success
We’re currently working on several case studies that highlight our members’ achievements and the impact of Tastebuds’ support. These stories are truly inspiring and show just how much innovation and passion exists within our community. Take a look here.
Connecting with Norwich Business School
We’ve also been collaborating with Norwich Business School to match dissertation students with local food and drink businesses. This partnership will help businesses gain valuable market research, analysis, and trend insights — and offer students hands-on experience in a thriving local industry.
Flying the Flag for Food & Drink
Alex attended the latest Connected Innovation meeting, proudly representing Tastebuds and the regional food and drink sector. It was a fantastic opportunity to connect with other clusters, explore partnerships, and keep food and drink firmly on the innovation agenda.
A Final Word
It’s been a busy but rewarding month of progress, partnership, and planning for what’s ahead. We’re so proud of the Tastebuds community — our members, partners, students, and sponsors — for helping us continue to build a thriving, connected, and creative food and drink ecosystem.
Stay tuned for more updates soon — and as always, thank you for being part of Tastebuds Collective!
