Bay Espresso has been confirmed as the sponsor of a new award in the annual Hastings Pak'nSave Edible Fashion Awards.
The Bay Espresso Best Use of Hawke's Bay Grown or Manufactured Food or Packaging offers a prize of $1000, and could be won by any of the entrants in theMarch 31 event.
The organiser, Hastings City Business Association, said the new award was designed to encourage entrants to use locally produced or manufactured products in their design.
Andrea Taaffe, the association's events and promotions manager, said the Bay Espresso award was a great incentive for entrants to go the extra mile with their designs.
Jonelle Jarvis, co-owner of Bay Espresso, is the artist behind all Bay Espresso branding and covers the walls of their Hawke's Bay cafes with coffee-themed murals.
"I went to the Pak'n Save Edible Fashion Awards last year, and I was amazed and inspired by all the creativity," she said.
"I would enter the event myself if I could spare the time. So it's great to be able to add to the event and offer a bigger financial prize for all the hard work put in. It is a great event for Hastings."
The Bay Espresso chain hoped the home-grown theme of the new category would reinforce the fact that Hawke's Bay was "spoilt with abundant fresh food, a very successful farmers market and loads of leading food entrepreneurs".
The 2012 Hastings Pak'n Save Edible Fashion Awards will be held at the Hawke's Bay Opera House on Saturday, March 31. Entries are currently being received by Hastings City Business Association.
