Delapré Abbey is giving students a direct route to market through a food festival-linked business competition in Northampton.
Students from Northampton College, Moulton College and Tresham College will pitch fully developed food product concepts to industry judges. The winning team will secure the opportunity to launch and sell their product at the Delapré Food Festival, creating a live commercial platform during Northamptonshire Food and Drink Week.
The initiative focuses on real-world business skills, with teams developing full propositions including product design, branding, pricing and marketing strategy. As a result, the competition mirrors the process of bringing a product to market in the food and hospitality sector.
Entries will be judged on creativity, taste, commercial viability and how effectively they reflect Northamptonshire’s food identity.
The winning product will be sold at the Delapré Food Festival on 6 and 7 June. In addition, it will be stocked at The Orangery Café at Delapré Abbey for six months, extending its presence in a retail setting.
Students will also gain experience working alongside executive head chef Bart Polinski, alongside mentoring from industry professionals. Consequently, the programme provides direct exposure to commercial kitchens and operational environments.
Amanda Nicols-Polinska, deputy chief executive at Delapré Abbey, said the initiative is designed to prepare students for the workplace. “Providing opportunities like this for students is incredibly important. It gives them the chance to develop practical skills, build confidence and gain valuable insight into the workplace,” said Amanda.
She added that the experience goes beyond academic learning. “By not only giving students the chance to officially launch a business, but also the opportunity to work alongside and receive mentorship from industry professionals, we hope to inspire the next generation of food entrepreneurs in Northamptonshire.”
Crispin Slee, organiser of the Delapré Food Festival, said the competition offers valuable commercial exposure. He said students will be able to test their products directly with customers and gain insight into market demand.
Rachel Mallows, who runs Northamptonshire Food and Drink Week, said the initiative supports emerging talent while strengthening the local sector. She added that combining culinary skills with business development is key to future growth in the industry.
Delapré Abbey continues to position its events as platforms for enterprise and skills development, supporting local supply chains and future business growth.
