VISITING students from a Chinese school joined forces with local pupils to take part in a young apprentice challenge.

Organised by Yeo Valley Farms and hosted by Haygrove School, the groups were given the task of inventing a new limited edition yoghurt-based product.

Using Yeo Valley’s natural yoghurt range as their starting point, each school group developed a new flavour and constructed a sales and marketing plan – including designing packaging – to promote their idea.

The two-day programme is designed to enhance and then test the students skills in business, marketing, product development and presenting.

Each group has to be prepared to present their product idea in a foreign language so that they understand what it is like to operate in a global economy.

Working in the school’s kitchens, the students experimented with their flavour combinations and then chose one to develop further and pitch to the judging panel.

Amongst the contenders were the a toffee apple flavour and an apricot-infused Battenburg designed to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday.

The Chinese team were judged the overall winners with their Minssion flavoured yoghurt drink that combined mint with passionfruit.

Judge Mrs Warren said: "The Chinese youngsters were very impressive.

"Their flavour was unique and their presentation was very professional.

"It included lots of information about their ingredients and the nutritional value of the product which is very important in today’s market place."