The Yorkshire Farmers Club met this week for a behind-the-scenes tour of HECK Food Ltd near Bedale, North Yorkshire.
Welcomed with tea and coffee at the Wendy House – the restored original farm building on the site – we were given an entertaining insight into the company by founder Andrew Keeble.
Andrew talked about HECK’s purchasing policy of only buying British meat for their products, remaining a proudly independent family-run business, and how they have driven growth in the premium sausage category to now claim over 60% of this market.
It was fascinating to hear about the different layers involved in running such a dynamic business.
For instance, the use of data to improve forecasting; aiming specific products to previously “sausage-resistant” sectors of the market; and investing in food production machinery to drive efficiencies.
Andrew is a passionate and entertaining speaker, and it was interesting to get such a personal insight into the business.
On a less serious note, he also told of his delight that his idea to bring sausage rashers to the market has recently provided the best new product launch in HECK’s history!
Then it was time to head over to the factory itself to look around the production facility where there were plenty of photo opportunities as we got togged up in matching food safety uniforms and headed down the stairs to see “where the magic happens”. All the group were impressed by the speed and efficiency of production.
The importance of all the members of the team from the warehouse to the engineering team was apparent.
We moved back to the Wendy House to take part in a taste panel. The taste panels are held every day to monitor quality – we enjoyed trying the seasonal limited edition ‘Guy Porks’ sausages (pork and apple with a touch of black treacle), sweet chilli chicken chipolatas, 97% pork chipolatas and the chicken sausage rashers.
Lots of good feedback with a mix of favourites amongst this choice!
The day finished with a delicious lunch in the staff canteen (no sausages for lunch!) before our group dispersed, clutching their generous bags of HECK goodies to take home.
One of our group said afterwards: “We all really enjoyed the visit, loved Andrew’s honesty, and what an operation! Great stuff.”
What is the Yorkshire Farmers Club?
A new initiative of the Yorkshire Rural Support Network at the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, the Yorkshire Farmers Club has been set up to give more senior members of the county’s working farming community the chance to meet up, off-farm and in likeminded company for industry visits.
The Yorkshire Farmers Club is essentially a social club for people who still have active farming minds, who are still involved in a farm business, perhaps have more time to get off farm and welcome the chance to be immersed in current industry intrigue.
The Club has the potential to help tackle social isolation and loneliness in the community by reconnecting farming people and creating opportunities for likeminded people to perhaps forge new friendships.
To read about the Club’s recent visits to British Sugar’s Newark factory, click here, and to Metcalfe Farms, click here.
