Speciality Food Magazine June 2024

23 specialityfoodmagazine.com Nick Egan CORNWALL PASTA CO Nick started his journey in professional kitchens aged 13, where food became his life. His relationship with food and where it comes from has always shaped the direction for Cornwall Pasta Co, which Nick founded to (in his own way) deliver real change to part of the food system. When it launched in 2020, Cornwall Pasta Co was the first organic British pasta company, championing ingredients sourced from his home county of Cornwall. Nick believes if you start with the absolute best ingredients, you always produce better food. The pasta is extruded using traditional bronze dies for a coarse surface. Alongside its organic wheat base, this makes for a distinctive taste he says you won’t find anywhere else. Cornwall Pasta Co products are plastic free, fully compostable, and have been certified by the Soil Association. cornwallpasta.com Will Fugard GUSTO ORGANIC After a career in the creative industries Will co-founded Gusto Organic with a desire to improve the UK soft drinks offer – delivering a range of soft drinks crafted for an adult palate, which he felt were missing in the chillers of bars and shops. The brand’s organic and Fairtrade colas are a significant part of the business, crafted using organic essential oils, extract of cola nut, Sicilian lemon juice, Fairtrade Madagascan vanilla and agave. And it launched the world’s first organic cherry cola, with 8% organic cherry juice. With Yuzu Lemonade, Sicilian Blood Orange, and a Fiery Ginger with Jalepeno in its stable, Gusto Organic has brought its premium and ethical lens to popular flavours, supplying fine hotels, restaurants and grocers across Europe, the Middle East and Singapore, with notable launches this June including Jones the Grocer at Heathrow Terminal 2, and The Mandarin Oriental in London. drinkgusto.com Angus Cowen and Charlotte Dawe SEA SISTERS When Angus and Charlotte founded Sea Sisters in 2021, they became the first people to manufacture canned fish in England since the 1940s. Angus was chef at some of London’s best-loved neighbourhood restaurants (including Trullo) before stepping out of the kitchen and the late nights of hospitality during the pandemic. And Charlotte is passionate about people food and storytelling. She loves how food brings people together, nourishes, and can be responsible for lifelong memories. She has worked with a diverse range of communities, which has been influential in the building of the Sea Sisters brand. Having a young family spurred Charlotte on to build her own family business. She wholeheartedly believes in diversity and inclusion, celebrating women in the fishing industry, as well as interpreting Sea Sisters’ social media content into BSL. The couple knew from the very beginning Sea Sisters was about supporting the British fishing industry, clear provenance, and innovative ideas with maximum flavour. Since launching, Sea Sisters has won many accolades, including Great Taste stars, and Reserve Supreme Champion for its Cuttlefish in Ink at the Taste of the West awards. seasisters.co.uk Shadia Al Hili CUZENA With no food industry experience, but an unwavering desire to introduce an unknown product to the British market, Shadia founded Cuzena to bring the magic of the Middle East to the British fine artisan food scene. Cuzena (meaning ‘kitchen’ in Moroccan) launched in 2018 with her Ful Madamous fava bean dips, which led to listings with Selfridges, Whole Foods and various independent retailers. Despite the challenge of introducing new products, and building a brand, Shadia has grown Cuzena into an ambitious team of five, with the business continuing to lead with absolute innovation in bespoke packaging with authentic flavours, from chips and dips, to stir-in suaces, and tofu snack pots, all designed for cross-category appeal. Cuzena’s products are now available on train lines and ferries, and Shadia’s sights are firmly set on airlines, and growing the foodservice range. Her vision remains ever clear, in bringing the joy of Middle Eastern food into the mainstream. She proudly supports Yemaid, which provides life-saving medical supplies, food and water to the people of Yemen, giving back to the heritage and roots where many of her recipes originate. cuzena.com Tom Palmer YEP KITCHEN After spending a decade living in the heart of China, eating his way across the country, Tom returned to the UK with a vision to bring the bold, fiery flavours of Chinese cuisine to British consumers, and to ignite excitement in a category that has remained largely unchanged for years. Tom set out to create condiments that truly represent the essence of China. By sourcing key ingredients directly from the regions where they grow, following traditional processes, and collaborating with Chinese artists to produce the artwork the represents the brand’s vision, he has been able to achieve just that. This dedication to authenticity led Tom establish Yep Kitchen’s own manufacturing site in London, ensuring the brand retains full control over production as it scales up. The current range features three umami-packed chilli oils and one fiery ferment, with more exciting products on the horizon. He is thrilled to be representing a cuisine he holds so dearly. Sharing the authentic flavours of China with the UK, Tom says, has been a dream come true. yepkitchen.com PRODUCED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH