Hawkshead Relish recognised for their Export success

Hawkshead Relish a Lake District artisan producer scooped the Passport to Export Award for Cumbria.

Mark & Maria Whitehead co-owners and founders of the Hawkshead Relish Company which produces artisan preserves were among a distinguished assembly of the Northwest leading businesses at the glittering UKTI award ceremony at Knowsley Hall, Merseyside. Scooping the ‘Passport to Export’ award for Cumbria was the highlight of the evening for the husband and wife team which brought about this notable Lake District speciality food producing company on the back of the Foot & Mouth crisis in 2001.

The Hawkshead Relish Company, winner of the Cumbria Passport to Export Award 2010 organised by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI). Mark Whitehead, (2nd left) collects his award from Lucy Meacock, guest speaker and ITV newsreader. With them are Brian Shaw, (left) MD UK Trade and Investment Group, and UKTI Regional Director Clive Drinkwater, (right) at the awards ceremony held at Knowsley Hall.

In only 10 years Hawkshead Relish has gone from producing 6 products and selling to Lakeland businesses, to now offering a range of over 100 handmade culinary creations with a discerning following country wide and to the far flung reaches of the world.

Maria Whitehead commented ‘This award is wonderful, in that it recognises our achievements as well as the sheer hard work, investment and determination we have duly needed to attain sales as far away as the Middle East and Taiwan!’ Mark Whitehead added ‘It is also fantastic for the Speciality Food Industry and assists in identifying the possibilities for community based business such as regional producers!’

Hawkshead Relish signed up to ‘Passport to Export’ run by UK Trade & Investment in 2007 in a bid to further sales markedly following the move of the production to a 16^th Century barn within the parish of Hawkshead.

These exceptional preserves that have become synonymous with the art of culinary excellence receiving notoriety from celebrity chefs, food critics and member of the Royal Family will be available to sample and savour.

Among the range are 39 ‘Great Taste Award’ winners establishing Hawkshead Relish as an outstanding president as a procurer of preserves, ranging from traditional through to innovative culinary creations.

Hawkshead Relish Company has and remains fervently committed to culinary distinction. Quality and innovation distinguishes Hawkshead Relish handmade preserves from mass produced brands that lack in originality. Essentially the absence of artificial colourings, preservatives, flavourings and paddings which are totally unnecessary are advertised as such on the labeling giving kudos to the ethos of the brand!

Hawkshead Relish believe, culinary evolution and a renaissance in ‘true taste’ has (in the last 2 decades) produced a population who are creative in their own right with tastes that extend far beyond the mass produced, safe placed market! The ‘Foot & Month’ catastrophe inadvertently forced the rural cottage culinary industry to come out from the desecrated countryside and present (what had previously been viewed as hidden) gastronomic gems and seek a potential market outside their locality and regions. The Hawkshead Relish Company was a business which was ultimately created on the back of this calamity and has consistently grown with the demand for artisan preserves and sauces of excellence. The success of Hawkshead Relish is one such which has helped in maintaining a sustainable rural economy.