APPLICATIONS are now open for a new Dragons’ Den-style competition that will give people a chance to appear on supermarket shelves across the county.

The Midcounties Co-operative has launched a new Food Glorious Food competition which will award £10,000 in cash for the best regionally-produced food or drink idea or product.

The competition is open to everyone, whether they are an existing producer, a farmer looking to diversify, or simply someone with an idea.

Phil Ponsonby, CEO at The Midcounties Co-operative, said: “Supporting local suppliers is at the heart of what we do. Through our Best of our Counties range we are promoting more than 40 local producers and this latest campaign is designed to extend that even further.

The winner will be able to use the £10,000 to invest in their product, which will join Midcounties’ Best of our Counties range and be sold in all 52 of its Gloucestershire food stores.

Shortlisted entrants will get the chance to pitch their products and ideas to a panel of local food and drink experts. Runners up will be given the opportunity to sell their products in selected Midcounties’ food stores and win a free one-day business skills course at Hartpury University and Hartpury College.

The Food Glorious Food competition forms part of The Midcounties Co-operative’s long-standing efforts to support Gloucestershire producers through its Best of our Counties initiative. 42 Gloucestershire food and drink businesses currently work with Midcounties Co-operative.