THE best food and drink makers in the region met with representatives of a top superstore to get their products on their shelves.

20 of the south east’s food and drink makers met at Wickham Bishops Village Hall on Monday with superstore Morrisons, who announced the search for local suppliers in February after research found that customers want to see more food and drink products made and produced ‘just down the road’ from their communities.

Morrisons’ search saw more than 120 producers from across the region apply to take part in the regional programme.

The best 20 were then invited to Wickham Bishops where they pitched to Morrisons buyers, customers and local store colleagues as well as the Women’s Institute.

The WI used their local knowledge and expertise to help Morrisons select the best food and drink makers.

Local food makers who attended the event included P.E Mead & Sons Ltd, sixth generation farmers from Hertfordshire producing cold pressed rapeseed oils; London based company Mighty Fine Honeycomb who produce British gourmet honeycomb, and The Garden Cider Company, a brewery making a range of bottled ciders from local apples in Surrey.

Richard Jones, Morrisons’ Food Quality Expert and Development Chef, said: “The South East has a long history of great, local food and the producers we’ve seen have been no exception. After seeing the quality of the food here in Essex, we’re keen to put even more food made locally on our customers’ plates.”

The suppliers who Morrisons think have what it takes to supply its stores will be invited to a final round at the supermarket’s head office in Bradford.