Speciality-Food-June-2025

18 @specialityfood Ann and Fergus Muller ANN’S PASTIES The story of Ann’s Pasties has humble beginnings, with Ann selling pasties outside her home in Cornwall’s Lizard Peninsula, but the business has gone on to become one of Cornwall’s most popular must-eat products. Ann’s son Fergus now runs the business and has grown it with aplomb, opening shops to make it even more of a destination for lovers of authentic Cornish produce. Despite its growth, Ann’s Pasties is passionate about celebrating the produce created within a 10 mile radius; not only does this guarantee quality, with the team able to keep a close eye on proceedings, but it gives them the opportunity to support local farmers and producers too. annspasties.co.uk Andy Venn SOMERSET CHARCUTERIE A family history of farming and learning butchery skills at the on-site farm shop have been key to the success of Somerset Charcuterie, which was founded when Andy and a friend – James – discovered that they were both tinkering with charcuterie-making as a hobby. Being a farmer’s son allowed Andy good access to local farmers who were willing to rear pigs for the business, and they opted for rare breeds to optimise flavour and quality. Rearing the animals slowly takes time but the perseverance pays off in the form of an exemplary selection of charcuterie, ranging from regional award-winning Black Down ham to lomo, lonzo, and free-range duck pancetta. Partnering exceptional locally-reared meat with ingredients sourced nearby, offering an honest taste of Somerset, has proven successful; the brand is now sold at many delis, restaurants and hotels across the sector – to the delight of locals. somersetcharcuterie.com Bertie Matthews MATTHEWS COTSWOLD FLOUR Eight generations of farming and milling in the Cotswolds have firmly placed Matthews Cotswold Flour on the local food map, and the brand’s now sizeable range of flours is much- loved across the UK – but especially so in its local area. Visit any bakery within a 20-mile radius of the production site, and it’s more than likely that they will be using Matthews Cotswold Produce in their baking. While artisanal bakeries are at the heart of Bertie and his team’s mission, the team’s shared vision to bring better flour to households across the country in order to level-up not only baking but the health of the local environment is reaping rewards across the board. Sourcing grain from sustainably-run farms is key to this mission, as is The Cotswold Grain Partnership – a group of similarly-minded locally- based farmers who work together to create a better future for farming both in the Cotswolds and beyond. cotswoldflour.com SOUTH WEST Barrie Gibson FOWEY VALLEY CIDER A cider-making hobby, fuelled by fruit from Barrie and Geraldine Gibson’s four apple trees, soon turned into a community affair when fruit from the local area’s trees was shared to be hand-pressed – and this spirit of connection still runs through the heart of Fowey Valley Cider, located on the banks of River Fowey and established in 2019. The small team behind the business belies the quality of its flagship product: a multi award-winning Champagne-style cider, which sits alongside a carefully curated range of spirits. While the scale of the business has certainly grown since its humble beginnings – it now offers gin and cider-making courses and tours as well as on-site and online shops – it remains true to its original ethos of celebrating West Country produce. For example, the base spirit at the foundation of its handcrafted spirits range is made by pressing and fermenting the finest regional fruit. Time honoured skills, local produce and a love of the humble apple collide in this authentic taste of the West Country. foweyvalleycider.co.uk Steve Williams GOOD GAME CHARCUTERIE Artisanal techniques and a passionate eye for quality are the key drivers for Steve Williams and his team at Good Game Charcuterie, who produce a range of cured meat products including salamis, coppa, bresaola, chorizo, pancetta and guanciale. Traceability is also of vital importance, with only meat from locally- reared free-range pigs, and grass-fed Devon Ruby or Devon Wagyu cows, used. This attention to detail has won Good Game a sizeable fanbase in the local area, who are also able to enjoy the team’s delicious produce at their restaurant, the South West Pizza Company. By using only native breed animals sourced from local producers and farmers – exclusively those who have enjoyed full lives outdoors – Good Game is able to guarantee optimum enjoyment and an honest taste of Devon. good-game.co.uk