Lancashire food firm to post £1.2m turnover

A Lancashire-based supplier of specialist cooking equipment is set to post a turnover of more than £1.2m at the end of the financial year, as its international reputation gains momentum.

SousVideTools.com has also released its first cook book and its growing client-base includes the Gordon Ramsay Estate.

The company supplies sous vide and vacuum packing equipment to home foodies and professional chefs and restaurants across the UK and Europe.

Based out of its headquarters in Claughton, the firm was established two and a half years ago by Alex Shannon, a former sales director at a refrigeration company.

Alex said: “My line of work meant that I was introduced to an Italian company called Foodtek. They were looking for a UK distributor of their sous vide products and approached me with some samples. I was so impressed by the products that I decided to take the plunge and I resigned from my job to set up SousVideTools.com.

“It turned out to be the right decision. Since then we have formed exclusive distribution agreements with two largest suppliers of this equipment globally, Polyscience and SousVide Supreme, and are supplying to Michelin-starred restaurants. We’re part of the BBC Good Food Show 2013, and we’ve just agreed a deal with an international distributor to release our cookbook in the USA.”

SousVideTools.com has received business growth advice and financial support from accountants and business advisers Moore and Smalley, also based in Lancashire.

Alex added: “Moore and Smalley has taken control of our accounts which allowed for us to become much more structured and concentrate on our growth.

“It has also played an important role in helping us to build our reputation internationally. We had very little knowledge of the market outside of the UK and the advice and support Moore and Smalley provided has been invaluable.”

Richard Hall, corporate services director at Moore and Smalley said: “In the two and a half years since the company began it has grown from a modest local firm into a thriving worldwide distributor which supplies products to some of the food industry’s most respected outlets.

“SousVideTools.com has a strong and loyal online customer base which has placed the company in excellent stead to extend its growth overseas. I’m confident it will continue to see impressive financial results and will thrive in international markets.” As well as the Gordon Ramsay Estate, SousVideTools.com’s clients include Michelin starred restaurants L’Enclume in Cumbria and Northcote Manor in Blackburn, along with the Lake District’s Gilpin Lodge and Manchester House, Manchester.