Family business Hawkshead Relish Company is supporting Cumbria’s new and independent food and drink awards.
The relish, preserves and sauce producer is to sponsor the Specialist Retailer of the Year category at the Cumbria Food Awards.
Established more than 20 years ago by Mark and Maria Whitehead, the business is firmly rooted in Hawkshead village.
Production takes place in a 16th century barn one mile outside Hawkshead, while customers can buy their favourites from the firm’s village shop.
Hawkshead Relish Company has won many awards, including more than 70 highly regarded Great Taste stars.
Maria said they were delighted to sponsor the Cumbria Food Awards and support their colleagues in the food and drink industry.
She added: “It’s good to be able to help and encourage other businesses to have a go. We like to see other people coming forward with their hopes and dreams and pushing to achieve and be the best that they can be.”
The firm’s story began in 1999 when Mark and Maria started a café business in Hawkshead. They made their own chutney to serve in the café and found it was in demand from customers who wanted to buy a jar to take home.
A turning point came in 2001 during the devastating outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease. Visitors were asked to stay away from the countryside and the café business disappeared overnight.
Mark and Maria took the opportunity to take their chutneys and preserves on the road, asking shops, restaurant and garden centre owners to stock their products.
The café was eventually converted into a shop and production took place in a kitchen at the back.
Moving production to larger premises has enabled Hawkshead to grow. Today the 30-strong team, who all live locally, makes 100 products. Production is still done by hand, albeit in much larger pans than 20 years ago.
Everything produced is vegetarian and free from nuts, gluten, additives and preservatives and the team makes products for other brands, including chef Tom Kerridge.
Mark’s great passion is to develop new ranges. Innovative products, such as Hot Beetroot Ketchup – which was recently awarded a rare Great Taste two star award – are made alongside established bestsellers.
Traditional Westmorland Chutney was the firm’s first and top selling product until Mark developed a Black Garlic Ketchup. The umami flavoured condiment takes 45 days to produce, during which time the garlic caramelises, turning black and sticky.
After Nigel Barden featured the ketchup on the BBC Radio 2 Drivetime show, orders went off the chart.
“Our website just crashed,” said Maria. “That really propelled both the product and us onwards.”
Maria and Mark, who have been joined in the business by their daughters, Abbie and Izzy, have plans to develop non-EU growth and sell more products in America and Canada. They
are export champions with the Department for International Trade and enjoy sharing their experience with others.
- Cumbria Food Awards, which take place on March 3, 2022 at Kendal College, are a new and independent event held in association with headline sponsor Caterite. Supporters include Kendal College, Booths, awards patron Simon Rogan and sponsors H&H Group and Cranstons.
