From artisan producers and craft breweries to cheese makers and award-winning cuisine, at Old Mill, we work with a wide range of local, national, and international food and drink businesses from across the South West’s vibrant food and drink sector.
The South West is at the forefront of the UK’s thriving food and drink sector, with many regional success stories from local producers to world-renowned, export-led food and drink businesses making real headway in global markets. The region has long been recognised as a hub for both fine dining and wholesome food, with the finest locally made and sourced produce supported by strong farming and fishing communities. And with a host of breweries, vineyards, and cider makers to add to the mix, we soon recognised the need to establish a team of specialist advisers working specifically with businesses in the food and drink industry.
We collaborate closely with numerous clients across the entire food and drink supply chain. And alongside our specialist sector knowledge, those clients also have the expertise and experience of the wider Old Mill team to draw upon.
So, if you’re looking for funding sources and financial planning for a new food and drink venture – we can help. If you’re an artisan pie maker in need of support with Research & Development (R&D) tax claims, a baker determined to buy new premises, or a vineyard vying for a slice of the international market – come and talk to us. And if you’re looking to call last orders on your food and drink business, we can work with you to plan an exit strategy that will further enable you to enjoy the finer things in life.
Whatever your aims and aspirations – for yourself and your food and drink business – we look forward to helping you achieve them. To chat to us about your plans, get in touch with our expert accountants and financial advisers for Food & Drink businesses, or book an appointment at one of our offices in Exeter, Wells, Chippenham and Yeovil.
Phil Mills. Head of Food & Drink
Lorraine Bolland is a Director at Old Mill, based in Yeovil. She works closely with clients to help them meet their compliance requirements, proactively prepare for legislative changes, and make informed decisions about the future of their business. Lorraine plays a key role in providing continuity and clarity for clients, acting as a trusted adviser and helping to reduce pressure on business owners and their finance teams.
With over 30 years’ experience in practice, including 20 years in audit alongside extensive tax exposure, Lorraine brings deep technical expertise and a practical commercial perspective. She primarily advises complex, multi-generational, owner-managed businesses, which are growing and evolving. Her client base includes a significant number of food and drink businesses, as well as organisations with strong links to farming and the rural community. Lorraine’s experience enables her to support businesses through periods of change, providing practical advice aligned with their long-term goals.
View my biog"I never wanted this day to come, but my mother must now enter a care home and it’s an emotional threshold to cross, yet there’s no time for emotions - I face a quagmire of information which I must process in order to best represent the person who has always been there for me. As part of my research I contacted the Society of Later Life Advisers (SOLLA) who gave me the details of Andrew Page at Old Mill. Within minutes of speaking to him I felt my shoulders drop and my heart rate return to normal! Andrew was knowledgeable, impartial and clear. He also had great empathy for my situation. Andrew neither charged me for his time nor did he attempt to sell me a service, although I would imagine that in certain situations either could apply. I cannot thank Andrew enough for his professional wisdom and kindness which greatly helped me in my path to support my mother as she takes her next big step."
