After five years in the making, Devon Sea Salt planned to launch their first product in March 2020, with exhibitions at many food fairs, markets, and events in the pipeline. However, Following the Coronavirus pandemic, the whole country was plunged into a lockdown and Devon Sea Salt were forced to rethink their business strategy. With help from the Heart of the South West Growth Hub, they were able to get things back on track, and move their business forward.Â
Devon Sea Salt are the only producers of sea salt in Devon. The brainchild of owner Chris Hambley, they use traditional techniques to produce ‘proper honest and sustainable sea salt’. All of their sea water is collected from the South Devon coastline and the salt is then harvested within their small family run salt house overlooking the River Tamar. The process used to produce their fresh, crisp sea salt is always evolving to ensure the company is as environmentally friendly as possible whilst retaining their true hand harvested approach.Â
After more than five years of research and development, the team were excited to launch to the market in March 2020. However, following the first national lockdown, the events and food fairs that were in the pipeline were all cancelled, and the team at Devon Sea Salt were forced to rethink their business strategy. Added to this, their environmental health inspection was delayed, and their packaging suppliers ceased trading, thus delaying their launch further. Â
Chris was made aware of the Growth Hub through the Trading Standard’s ‘Made in Devon’ programme, and he decided to get in touch to see what help and advice they could offer. Â
After contacting the Growth Hub, Devon Sea Salt received business development guidance as well as financial advice, helping to get the business back on track after what had been a very turbulent time due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Â
Chris said, The Growth Hub really enabled us to gain the expert knowledge we needed to move the business forward. The pandemic threw the whole year of planning off-track, and the growth hub was invaluable in enabling us to pave a new way forward for Devon Sea Salt.’Â
He added, ‘The staff at the growth hub are fantastic, really helpful and friendly. No questions were left unanswered, and the advice was given freely. I really can’t thank them enough for their assistance.’Â
Devon Sea Salt were finally able to offer their sea salt for sale, launching to the market in November 2020, nearly seven months later than originally planned. They have since been presented with a silver award at the ‘Taste of the West’ awards.Â
www.devonseasalt.co.ukÂ
Instagram: @devonseasalt
