Since the start of the year things have just gone from strength to strength and this is the reason for the delay in updating the blog. The shows have started and the yellow flowers are out. I just hope that we have not seen the last of the sun for this summer as it is currently throwing it down outside and has been for the best part of a week.
It was sad that the weather got the better of Sudeley Castle show with it having to be cancelled on the Sunday as it really was a mud bath in the car park, and today I have found out that Badminton has also been cancelled, which is a real shame as we were looking forward to exhibiting there for the first time.
Over the coming months we will be giving away tickets to food shows across the country. YES FREE! all you have to do is watch out for them on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cotswold-Gold/337055348768 or twitter https://twitter.com/#!/CotswoldGold
The range of natural infusions taste amazing and can be used in so many ways. I am now developing recipe ideas to go on a new leaflet that will be out soon. If you have not tried these flavours you really should see what everyone is talking about.
To go with my new product of WHITE TRUFFLE that I brought out just before Christmas, I am now developing a summer salad dressing with a twist. Labels are being designed and you will just have to watch this space. They have passed the taste test so far and we look forward to hearing your thoughts on them.
Cotswold Gold has now branched out of the UK and is selling in Jersey, Japan and hoping for a link with Barbados. The Cotswolds have a strong brand outside of the UK and we feel Cotswold Gold can benefit from this.
With the continuing growth of business, I have taken on my first member of staff who you will be seeing at food shows this summer. Joe has just turned 20 and is a placement student from the Royal Agricultural College Cirencester, in his second year. If you see him at the shows please stop by and say hello and see if his sales pitch can work on you.
Cotswold Gold has joined up with a Japanese tour operator to offer tours from field to bottle and allowing them to take photos of the yellow fields. The first group came last week with great success and they have now booked another 14 tours in before the yellow flowers turn to green seed pods.
After great success and support from you at our shows, we have now raised £1,030 for Help for Heros and £810 for Walking for the Wounded, which have been my chosen charities, having friends that have been injured fighting and have benefited from both of these charities. We will continue to support these charities at all of our shows this year and welcome all donations with a smile. I continued on the fund raising stage by putting my body on the line with running the Paris Marathon last weekend in aid of Leukemia and have raised just over £2,000 with donations still coming in. (http://www.justgiving.com/charlie-beldam) I completed the 26.6miles in a time of 4.02 after hitting the wall at 20miles. I know how much all the donations have meant to Luke who is currently going through chemo and I thank everyone for their continuing support. I look forward to selling you all a bottle soon.
