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Hampshire Fare takes to the road

Tuesday October 13th, 2020

HF Van © The Electric Eye Photography 3

 

After securing funding from the Loddon & Test LEADER Programme, Hampshire Fare have acquired a liveried van with the intention of launching the Hampshire Fare Roadshow, to help champion Hampshire’s finest local food, drink and craft producers.

 

Due to this year’s pandemic and accompanying lockdown restrictions, the county’s events programme has suffered. However, this liveried van will ensure Hampshire Fare is transport-ready for events in 2021, as well as allowing the development of a new flexible Hampshire Fare Roadshow.

Tracy Nash explains: “It is fantastic that securing the liveried van and establishing the Roadshow coincides with Hampshire Fare’s 30th anniversary next year. Programme funding includes the provision of a pop-up gazebo and boards portraying some of our members’ stories. Altogether this will allow the development of a Hampshire Fare Roadshow, enabling us to do our best to promote all of our members’ fantastic produce and places to buy, eat and stay in the region. It will help us market Hampshire as a staycation experience.”

As the project is all about supporting the local economy and promoting local businesses, Hampshire Fare also bought locally: the VW Caddy van was supplied by Breeze Volkswagen Van Centre Southampton and liveried by Extreme Signs Ltd in Totton.

Mike Wright, Chairman, Hampshire Fare, adds: “This is yet another example of how much we want to support our members and promote Hampshire’s great local products. We are a proactive membership organisation that always looks for a better way to do things.”

Robert Benford, Chairman of the Loddon & Test LEADER Local Acton Group, comments: “We are delighted to have been able to help Hampshire Fare with a capital grant for this project. This is one of the last grants we can give, as the LEADER programme is ending with Brexit. Over the past five years we have helped 62 businesses in the area to the tune of £2,250,000. This funding has been of great value to the local economy, so we do hope the Government will consider establishing a similar scheme moving forward.”

The image above (taken by The Electric Eye Photography) shows the Hampshire Fare team with Tracy Nash behind the wheel and Robert Benford (centre) of Loddon & Test Local Action Group.

 

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