A BISHOP’S Waltham man has created a group for street food vendors in Hampshire.

Dennis Veazey, 22, started his first business, The Risen Pizza Co., earlier this year, making Neapolitan style pizzas from a wood fire oven.

A regular on the street food scene in Winchester High Street, Mr Veazey has now founded the Hampshire Street Food Collective, to match vendors with event organisers.

He hopes it will make the process of catering events simpler, and says the idea came about from working alongside others in the city.

He said: “I was really getting into the spirit of market life and street food, as there are always so many passionate foodies selling amazing dishes and I could just talk about food with them all day long.

“I was starting to see street food as a little community, and with a background in events and festival management from my degree at Buckinghamshire New University I know the hassle of the catering side of events. The idea was to be able to take the responsibility of sourcing great good traders and offer a hassle free catering package.”

The collective now works with eight traders; The Risen Pizza Co., Gaddens Foods, The Smokin’ Joint, Jimmy Bean, Little Coffee Bean, The Rosebud Bakery, The Pie Hole and Weiner Weiner.

Mr Veazey said: “I feel it’s a great way to give our businesses exposure, and also secure better trading spots at larger events by having more influence as a group of traders.

“In the future I hope to be able to start a regular street food market in Hampshire.”