Accredited Food Links Mentor

Accredited Business Link FBAS Specialist Marketing Advisor

Over 15 years of business management & marketing experience, 10 of which as co-founder and director of a niche communication technologies company which was subject to acquisition in 2000.

Catherine brings a real and sharp business perspective to HOOP Associates, founded in 2000 to provide specialist marketing and business development services to a diverse range of land-based rural businesses, including food producers and farmers.

HOOP provides a wide spectrum of business development services from diversification planning and implementation, product development and branding, market awareness campaigns, business negotiation, Press & Public Relations and implementation of direct marketing strategies for farm produce.

HOOP also runs it own unique Marketing & Business Development Programme for food producers and rural businesses which is run by HOOP in association with funding partners.

Catherine is widely involved in the regional rural business community.

She is Governor of Bicton College and sits on several regional committees. She is also Chair of her local Farmers Market.

She lectures on marketing and writes frequently for the press and specialist publications including Devon Life, Organic Farming Magazine, and Western Morning News about issues facing rural and farming enterprise.

She lives in East Devon on a traditional mixed farm where Catherine and her family run a farm-direct business for their diverse range of “Fine Quality Farm Produce.”