A Cumbrian butcher and farmer will be on a Channel 4 reality show next month.
Lee Scrimgeour, 43, who runs the Stonehouse Smokery at Moorhouse, near Carlisle, will appear on Aldi’s Next Big Thing – and has the chance to provide the popular supermarket chain with his products.
The smokery produces ethical, 100% British and prize-winning charcuterie.
Honing his 20 years of experience working as a chef in award-winning restaurants, to set up the business with his wife, Rochelle in 2015.
Lee was picked from hundreds of applicants competing for a contract to stock Aldi stores nationwide and is hoping his Pasta Bombs, intended to add a hint of umami to dishes, will wow the judges.
The zero-waste product uses off cuts of ground pork and beef and was developed to use surplus charcuterie ends which were too small to dice.
Pasta Bombs are a combination of free range pork, Herdwick charcuterie, stout, and a special mix of herbs and spices.
Lee hand-rears Tamworth pigs which graze outside on the Cumbrian fells.
Lee said: “It’s mainly me who does all the farming, curing, butchering, packaging and selling.
“Food waste is something we’re really passionate about. Getting our product into a leading supermarket would be unbelievable.
“It would be such a proud moment – I’d need a bit more help in the kitchen mind!”
Hosted by broadcaster and author Anita Rani and Chris Bavin, the six-part series will see suppliers compete in a range of categories.
Products are presented to Julie Ashfield, managing director of buying at Aldi UK, who deliberates on factors such as price, packaging, shopper demand, and the ability to scale up, before shortlisting contestants down to just two.
The finalists are then given four weeks to address any feedback, with a follow-up home visit from Anita or Chris who will report back their findings to Julie.
The three then taste test the improved products, before Julie decides the winner which will appear in over 1,000 stores.
Lee will appear on the programme on Channel 4 on April 2 at 8pm.
