Food and Drink > Lancashire Producers > Featured Producers In Lancashire

Featured Producers In Lancashire

In this section we have put together a selection of local Lancashire producers to show you the wide variety of produce Lancashire has to offer from jams and chutneys to Ostrich burgers and pies.

There is a growing number of our restaurants, eateries and retail outlets that recognise the quality and distinctive flavour of Lancashire produce and choose to source and use local produce wherever possible.

The Ribble Valley Meat Company

At the age of just 25, Jim Beary started his own small farming business "The Ribble Valley Meat Company" growing, rearing, processing and selling his own rare breed pigs, Gloucestershire Old Spots to be precise. The method of farming that Jim follows is traditional, however it is a mixture of the skills that his father taught him, together with methods learned at college and from working abroad. Jim started his new enterprise in April 2006, with just 6 pigs, and now, just over two years later he has 300 pigs.

All the animals are kept outside in large free roaming pens, in a very clean and tranquil environment "The meat that we produce is of the highest quality and great taste, I believe this is because of the environment that we provide for our pigs, the slower maturing breed and because we believe in allowing our pigs the freedom to exercise, it is a very relaxed atmosphere, and pigs are very friendly!"

Jim is currently feeding some of the pigs on beer to enhance the flavour of the meat and also making some Bowland beer bangers (see the feature on Bowland Brewery later in this section) which are going down well!

Bowland Brewery

artisan producer here in the Real ale has grown in popularity over the past few years, and it's good to know that we have a true county. Richard started this brewing business in April 2003, brewing just 216 pints per week. Now, he is producing over 10,000 pints per week.

The brewery has maintained its focus on crafting high quality ales, using only the finest malted grains and full flower hops in the brewing process. The brews range from dark, luscious mild ales to zesty pale ales and Richard draws on his background in manufacturing engineering to add scientific rigour to the artistry of blending malts and hops to create perfectly balanced beers.

The range is destined to grow with the introduction of an Artisan range in champagne bottles, allowing Richard to move beer into new markets at home and abroad with quirky recipes planned including Rhubarb and Coriander wheat beer and after dinner chocolate and coffee porter.

Based in the smallest town in the country at Bashall Town, they also have a visitor centre where you can come along and see the brewing process, buy the real ale and other locally produced foods from Bashall Barn Farm Shop. So if you fancy a try of this real local ale you can buy it direct from Bowland Beer at Bashall Barn Farm Shop, Byrnes of Clitheroe and pubs throughout Lancashire.

Lathams

The Sweet Taste of Success!
Latham's recipe of success developed from Gwen Latham's 'hobby' of indulging her sweet toothed family and friends. Her transformation from a 'normal housewife and cook' to a confectioner of repute began over thirty years ago when she started making desserts for her sister's hotel. Other neighbouring hotels recognised the quality of her delicious, wholesome desserts and the business expanded.
Gwen and her husband, Bill, have taken this family owned firm from strength to strength by keeping to their fundamental principals of using only the finest ingredients. Now, under the leadership of their son, the business employs more than seventy people and supplies numerous hotels, restaurants and eating establishments as well as coffee shops, delicatessens and a local supermarket chain, all in the North West of England. The company also has two retail outlets and a large bakery based in Fulwood, Preston.
Lathams keep their excellent reputation by using only the best quality ingredients sourced mainly from local farms and producers, which enhances the homemade taste. Devotees of Latham's luscious confections to this day travel miles to buy their products.

Slice of Sicily

A true Sicilian, using local Lancashire ingredients to make authentic Italian and Sicilian recipes, Etty opened his deli, in Penwortham in September 2004, selling homemade pesto, antipasto, salami, sausage, and sweets and a full range of authentic Italian products. The business has grown over the years offering a wider range of produce including arts and crafts. There is now a café by day and bistro by night, with regular tapas and wine tasting evenings.

open other delis within Lancashire, The atmosphere that Etty has created is very Italian, surrounded with produce from Italy and homemade products, fantastic smells and gentle calming music playing in the background. Etty's hopes to to offer more people a true taste of Italy with his award winning pesto and homemade produce.

You can visit the deli 7 days a week, and also find Etty at the following farmers markets: Cedar Farm, Mawdesley, Hoghton Tower, near Preston and summer shows.

Parkers Preserves

Parkers Preserves have being making preserves for a number of years and recently decided to turn their hobby into a business. So since November 2005 they have been continually expanding their award-winning product range.

They do not use any artificial colouring, flavourings or preservatives, only sugars and vinegars, fruit and vegetables and these ingredients are sourced from markets or farm shops and they try to buy fair trade items whenever possible.
Small batches are made and so there may be a variation in colour between batches but this does not affect the taste. In fact Brian won the "Best Chutney, pickle or Mustard" award from Northwest Fine Foods in 2008 for his Mango Chutney Sweet N Spicy.

You can find Brian at Northenden, Heaton Mersey and Helmshore Farmers Markets and in the following outlets in Lancashire:

The Lancashire Deli in Leyland, Berits & Brown in Poulton le Fylde and Pendle Heritage Centre in Barrowford.

R S Ireland

The secret of a gastronomical delicacy dating back to Roman times, shrouded by mystique and folklore and enjoyed by many people in the North of England is out at last.
If you haven't tasted this Lancashire delight then you've never lived! Especially if its one of R.S. Ireland's multi-award winning Black Puddings. Made to a secret recipe, once tasted you're sure to become hooked by the wonderful explosion of flavours of this dark, aromatic mouth-watering morsel and we're sure you'll be back for more.
White Puddings and V-puds (a vegetarian option also extremely tasty) are also available and can be found at the following Lancashire Farmers' Markets:
Rossendale, St Annes, Hoghton Tower and Chorley.