PEASE PUDDING PUTS FAMILY BUSINESS ON THE FOOD MAP

A family business in Durham is putting a regional delicacy firmly on the food map thanks to its partnership with premium discounter Aldi.

A family business in Durham is putting a regional delicacy firmly on the food map thanks to its partnership with premium discounter Aldi.

Durham Foods Limited supplies 8,000 tubs each week of traditional North East product ‘Pease Pudding’ to 43 Aldi stores across Aldi’s Darlington region.

Pease pudding, which has been around for centuries in different guises, is light yellow in colour and mainly consists of split peas. It has a mild taste and is similar in texture to hummus. It was traditionally served with a bacon or ham joint but is now used as a salad accompaniment, a vegetable spread or in a ham sandwich.

Founded in 1978, Durham Foods employs 16 staff and is run by the Hamilton family - Alan Senior, Alan Junior and grand-daughter Ainsleigh who recently joined the business.

The business has reported a steady increase in sales of pease pudding during the past 18 months as consumers have been looking for versatility and value.

Alan Hamilton Junior said: “When the company first started, pease pudding production was limited to domestic kitchens and small butchers, which is where we used to purchase it from.

“As it grew in popularity, my father [Alan Senior] decided to make his own pease pudding recipe. He didn’t use bacon or ham stock and therefore made pease pudding suitable for vegetarians for the first time.

“We originally started our relationship with Aldi supplying around 2,000 individual tubs a week; we’re now up to 8,000. In addition, we’re seeing more and more enquiries for it from further afield so are hoping for this success to continue.”

A spokesperson for Aldi said: “Durham Foods Limited is a fantastic family company and an important part of our valued supplier network. Local suppliers are important to Aldi and we are delighted to have helped their business grow.”

To find your nearest Aldi store that stocks Durham Foods Limited’s ‘Pease Pudding’ visit www.aldi.co.uk or contact customer services on 0844 406 8800.
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