The Real Food staff team

Sally Partington
General Manager

I was born and raised here in Devon and have worked in the catering industry for many years, I’ve worked in restaurants, cafes and a delicatessen with most of my time spent managing and organising events at Cafe Green Ginger in Ashburton. After a break from catering - managing our family run Design and Print business for 6 years I now feel it is time to return to where my passion lies.

Having run my own business I also understand how important it is to support local businesses and feel in my role as The Real Food Store’s General Manager I can help promote this by supporting local farmers and suppliers and in turn bringing you all a feast of local produce.

I’m an enthusiastic, hardworking, friendly person who thrives on a challenge and welcomes any comments or suggestions you may have regarding any aspect of The Real Food Store and look forward to meeting with you all.

Ian Taylor
Assistant Manager

I have several years' experience in the catering, hospitality and leisure industries. In recent years I have worked for The National Trust in Warwickshire as Catering Manager; this grade 1 listed Elizabethan manor with  60 acres of land housed fallow deer, Jacob's sheep and a heronry. I have worked at Warwick Castle as a Restaurant and events manager.

As a young adult I worked for The Youth Hostel Association as a Manager, and PGL Adventure Holidays in France and UK as a bar/shop manager and multi activity instructor. I moved to Torbay in August 2010 with my wife and son to improve our quality of living and also to sample the culinary delights of Devon and the South west of which I am please to note there are many!! I am therefore in my ideal job as it gives me the bonus of working with fantastic local produce and gaining in depth knowledge about the excellent local farmers and food producers.

Information about other new Real Food staff will be posted soon. Pics on their way too!

The Board of Directors

The Board of Directors of Exeter Local Food Ltd (trading name The Real Food Store) comprises the following five people- all of whom will stand down at the AGM on 26 February 2011. All are available for re-election.

Dominic Acland
Co-founder of Occombe Farm, a major farming and local food retail and education centre in South Devon.

Nicola Beglin
Chair of the Committee of Management of Exeter Community Agriculture and currently working for the DCC library service.

 Sarah Collier
Career in environmental and community project development & management also as a trainer in field of corporate social responsibility.

 David Mezzetti
Transition Exeter. Set up and managed a successful specialist travel business for 15 years, followed by a career in primary education.

Emma Parkin
Former press officer for the Soil Association, she returned to Exeter and established the successful 'Emma's bread' artisan bakery business in 2005. Co-founder & a director of Love Local Food.