THE unexpected pull-out by Sharps Brewery from the Tavistock Food and Drink Festival left organisers concerned, but the vacant slot has now been filled.
The brewery decided they could not attend the festival after being selected for the finals in a major beer award which takes place on the Monday after the Tavistock festival.
But festival organisers were approached by the Black Farmer, who is taking up the vacant exhibitor slot.
One of the organisers said the Black Farmer was a story of racial tolerance and entrepreneurial success in the unlikely surroundings of Devon.
Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones was one of the first generation immigrants to the UK, having been raised first in the poverty of the Jamaican bush then spending his youth in inner city Birminham. Some 30 years of hard work followed, but he was eventually able to fulfill his dream with the purchase of a farm in the rolling hills of Devon.
Wilfred launched a range of sausages, burgers and sauces this year after spending a professional life working with food ? first as a BBC producer/director then as founder of a food and drink marketing agency.
Tavistock Food and Drink Festival takes place on July 31 and August 1 in the Pannier Market.