Recipe for success: rag pudding firm steaming ahead

Posted by on 23 Nov 2016

A well-known Milnrow food manufacturer has proved it’s got the all the right ingredients, with plans to sell a famous northern delicacy across Europe.

Jacksons Farm Fayre has supplied rag puddings to pubs and other businesses all over Lancashire for 31 years, but now it could be sending them overseas to Spain and Tenerife, thanks to new investment.

Owner Keith Jackson reckons his business could go international now he’s invested in additional premises at Sparth Bottom and a new piece of specialist equipment, known as an autoclave oven, which keeps food fresh for months.

The move means that, as well as keeping their famous tasty steamed meat puddings fresh for longer, they could also manufacture food which has been produced by other companies, and big names have already been in touch.

During a visit to his base in Back Harbour Lane by council leader Richard Farnell, Keith Jackson said: “We’re one of only a few companies in the UK which owns an autoclave oven and it gives us huge potential. I’ve been in talks with Paxo and a lady who runs a baby food business, which has had interest from retailers in Iran and Singapore, as well as John Lewis.

“I’ve also been in talks with some guys from Uppermill who have created a new healthy alternative to bread called lo dough. They were going to produce the food in Corby and then send it up to me for manufacture, but there is so much good business space in Rochdale, I’ve managed to find them a spot on Stakehill Business Park, so it’s worked really well.”

The new equipment will also allow Rochdale’s famous rag puddings to travel the globe, with high demand from the borough’s expats, now living in Spain and Tenerife.

And the move will help the company gain the prized British Retail Consortium (BRC) accreditation, which means it can sell online and directly to big names like supermarkets, rather than going through wholesalers.

Keith added: “We’re expanding fast, but the company’s always been in Rochdale and this is where I want to stay. I’ve got a great team of local employees, and plan to increase the workforce from eight to around 16 in the next year. I’d also love to work with the local universities and Hopwood Hall College to get some apprentices and graduates to help with research and development.”

Council leader Richard Farnell said: “Rochdale is known for its pioneering tradition and I’m really proud that fantastic local businesses like this are blazing a trail. Jacksons has the potential to go global in the coming months, and with that will come more investment and jobs for our borough, which is fantastic news for our residents.”