Hampshire Fare looks ahead to new era with fresh faces on the board

Hampshire Fare, the membership group for the food, drink and hospitality sectors in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, has appointed five new board members and three non-executive directors.

The organisation, which promotes the region’s food, drink and craft across the UK, hopes the news appointments will help to drive it forward into a new era.

The new board members are Steve Whitwam from Harvest Fine Foods; Rachel Peppiatt from West Lea Farm Shop, Jodie Ringer, from Comax,  Jordan Graves from Menzies and Ali Fielder, from Bongo Creative.

The non-executive director appointments include: Kevin Briscoe, Director at Briscoe PR; Victoria Townsend, from Ocean Fish and Nicola Morris from ISS Facility Services.

They join the existing board members Oliver Weeks, from Ideal Collection; Sarah Kennedy, from Lusso Leaf Microgreens; Felicity Smith, from Mortimer Chocolates; Sam Elliott-Smith, from Staunton Farm Shop; Will Dobson, from Hill Farm Juice; Hugo Hardman, from Chalk Stream Foods and Andy McKenzie from Lainston House.

Oliver Weeks has been appointed as the new Chair with Steve Whitwam as Vice Chair, Jordan Graves as Treasurer and Felicity Smith as Secretary.

Oliver said: “I am honoured to become Chair. We have supported Hampshire Fare as a member and corporate partner for 17 years and we have been big supporters of local during this time. Hampshire has so much to offer and we really will continue to put it on the map for food, drink and craft.”

Natasha Dochniak, Hampshire Fare’s Commercial Manager, has introduced a number of new initiatives in her first six months in the role to ensure the member proposition is relevant.

She said: “As with anyone coming into a new role and organisation, you come with fresh ideas and a different approach and mindset.

“My joining was an ideal opportunity to look at how Hampshire Fare has been running in its current state and make some necessary changes in order to set ourselves up for success, and that comes from the board down.

“We are an extremely small team yet achieve so much and so with the additional support of a pro-active board will not only be able to propel forward at pace but also deliver so much more that will benefit our members.”

Hampshire Fare would like to acknowledge and thank outgoing Chair, Will Dobson, for his efforts and contribution this past year. Will Dobson remains on the board for the foreseeable future.

• https://www.hampshirefare.co.uk/