People’s Champion finalist 2016: HECK Food

Start-up name: HECK Food
Founder: Jamie, Roddy and Ellie Keeble
Started in: 2014
Based in: Bedale
Business description: Independent sausage producer

Shortlisted category:

Product Business of the Year
Venture Funded Business of the Year

The HECK Food story:

Starting a business in the notoriously congested food market against a host of established brands was never going to be easy.

However in the last two years 2014 Young Guns Jamie, Roddy and Ellie Keeble have grown HECK Food to become “the UK’s number one premium sausage brand” and are on track to generate multi-million revenues next year.

Taking its name from the family motto “What the heck?”, the Startups 100-listed company creates a variety of premium pork, beef, chicken and vegetarian sausages, balls and burgers which it distributes across all major retailers.

Its team of 70 staff – which has an average age of 25 – has taken full advantage of creative marketing opportunities to grow the brand, making appearances on a number of UK soaps and TV shows and committing to a strong presence across all the main social media channels.

2017 will see the opening of a new food factory on the site of the old family farm, featuring “state of the art machinery” capable of firing out 700 sausages in one minute! It will also include a ‘sausage world’ to give consumers an insight into the production of the humble banger.

Why HECK Food made our shortlist:

This sizzling start-up has gone off with a bang in a difficult market thanks to the innovative approach of its young, passionate and creative team. With expansion on the cards, we think HECK has the potential to scale – and scale fast.

Where to find out more about HECK Food:

Website: www.heckfood.co.uk
Twitter: www.twitter.com/heckfood