The Board of Directors

The Real Food Store is driven by the Board of Directors of Exeter Local Food Ltd who give their time and expertise. The Real Food Store is the trading name of Exeter Local Food Ltd. The Board meets regularly and the Directors work collaboratively with the Store Managers and the staff team. The current Directors were voted onto the board at the May 2012 Annual General Meeting of ELF Ltd.

Dominic Acland, Business Planning 

I have spent my working life in nature conservation and countryside management and I am currently employed as Managing Director of Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust, a conservation charity. I played the lead role in setting up Occombe Farm in 2006, a demonstration organic farm with farm shop and café on the edge of Paignton which is also an education centre for food and farming. I live in Broadclyst and became involved in Exeter Local food Ltd and Real Food because I wanted to see local food made easily available to residents of Exeter and I wanted to build on my experience at Occombe Farm. I am also a director of the English Riviera Geopark Organisation.

David Mezzetti, Chair

I am a founding Director of Exeter Local Food Ltd and have been an active part of the team that has shaped its development over two years into Real Food. I have a business background that is valuable in shaping the development of the Real Food Store business. I regard my networking and personnel skills as valuable assets. Above all, I am committed to and excited by the achievements of community investment as a business model and to the involvement of the Real Food members in making The Real Food Store a financial success- through the expression of its core values.

Emma Parkin, PR & Media

After originally training in design, after working in Bristol with the Soil Association as their senior press officer I returned to my native Exeter to set up my own artisan bakery business. I believe passionately in eating good, locally produced food that benefits individual health, local producers and our environment that also keeps money within the local economy. The Real Food Store is now the home of Emma’s Bread, so as well as baking, my role as director keeps me involved with the media and PR / Communication side, a vital part of promoting the Real Food Store. I have worked with Exeter Local Food Ltd since it was set up & I was also a founder member of Love Local Food. 

Les Bright, Member Communications

I qualified as a community development worker around 35 years ago, and since that time have worked in or volunteered for local and national voluntary organisations, primarily in the social welfare field, but also including a period as a director of a cooperative development agency. Since moving to Exeter in 2003 I have been self-employed as a researcher and writer. I am especially interested in finding ways that members may contribute to the success of our business.

Natalie Taylor, Marketing

My 24 year career has involved print production, advertising, media planning and marketing, specialising over the past decade in online marketing. I love the Real Food Store’s fundamental, community ethos and my life revolves around all things food related, whether that be shopping, cooking, eating or writing about it. I'm not great at growing, so that's where The Real Food Store steps in. Having lived in and around Exeter for the past 18 years, I am in awe of the abundance of great produce that can be found locally and RFS is putting it easily within our reach. I will be working on a broad spectrum of marketing projects with the Board, to encourage Exeter shoppers to participate in this special project within our city, building on the first year's successful operation. The store, bakery and café combination, dedicated to showcasing local producers, is like nothing else in Exeter at the moment so it should be very easy to spread the word.

Sarah Collier, Company Secretary

I have a background in project development and management in the environmental and community sector (Groundwork, International Business Leaders Forum) & I have always been passionate about food - especially local and sustainably produced food. I have been actively involved in the development of Exeter Local Food Ltd since March 2009. I bring my communication & organisational skills to my role as Company Secretary and apart from my statutory duties, I am involved with organising events and exhibitions, as well as having regular contact with members and Real Food Store partners (artists and producers).