Pudding producer secures garden centre gig

By Tim Aldred

07 Jun 2023

Rachel Ratcliffe of Pudalicious

Barton Grange Garden Centre is now stocking Pudalicious puddings after the Wyre-based producer secured its first retail listing.

Rachel Ratcliffe was looking for a career change away from prison governor when she launched her business in 2013. Originally a cake-maker, she later switched to specialise in traditional British puddings, inspired by her grandmother's recipes.

Her range of seven fruit crumbles and two sponge-based puddings have been sold directly to consumers via farmers’ markets and now - thanks to a collaborative effort from a range of Lancashire organisations -  they are newly available through the local food shop at Barton Grange Garden Centre.

The win follows support from business support programme Boost. 

Rachel first heard about Boost support in 2019 through the Pink Link Ladies network. At the time she was still selling celebration cakes and afternoon teas directly to the public, but she connected with UCLan’s Innovation and Design team to help with commercial branding.

Rachel was then introduced to Boost’s Growth Mentoring programme in July 2020. She worked with mentor Paul Ainsthorpe to look at how to grow her business and gain distribution through retailers. Rachel was keen to keep her customer base but move into a new direction for the business.

Rachel said: “I gained a lot of valuable confidence through the mentoring, and it improved my self-belief, but the pandemic forced me to pause my business plans, just as I was ready to expand.”

Boost is Lancashire's Business Growth Hub and is led by Lancashire County Council and the Lancashire LEP (Local Enterprise Partnership). It is supported by funding from Lancashire County Council, the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

The Growth Mentoring Programme is a fully funded programme where the business is matched with a successful businessperson who will provide support to tackle the challenges business leaders and management teams are facing in managing and growing their business.

Rachel made a further connection with Boost in July 2021 and was introduced to Boost business adviser Debbie Chinn, a food and drink specialist, who undertook a business review with Rachel to help her get her business back on track.

Debbie advised Rachel what was required to get her products into retail outlets, which includes shelf-life testing, nutritional analysis and marketing. 

She introduced Rachel to the NoWFOOD programme at Chester University which provided her with a cost-effective shelf-life testing service for her pudding products and advice on upgrading her product labels with nutritional values. These were a prerequisite to stocking her puddings at Barton Grange and other retail outlets.

Rachel also received support from the Lancashire County Council’s LEADER Rural Development Fund and benefitted from joining a cohort of similar rural businesses through Boost’s Peer Networks in early 2022.

Debbie said: “It is so satisfying to speak to ambitious entrepreneurs like Rachel that are keen to make a go of it in the food and drink sector. I can draw from my own professional experience and help sign post them to the relevant support services on offer."

Rachel recently celebrated the tenth anniversary of her baking business and has plans to get her products into more retail outlets and supermarkets and continues to work with Boost business advisor Debbie Chinn.

Future expansion plans include recruiting a driver and being able to appear at local farmers’ markets in a greater capacity. Rachel is keen to increase retail contracts and recently secured a further contract to supply Barton Grange with frozen goods and also supplies fresh puddings to Hens On The Hill – a self-service farm shop near Blackburn.

She also has other potential contracts in the pipeline and aims to expand her kitchen or seek a small catering unit in the next 18 months.

Rachel added: “The ability to run your ideas past advisers that are specialists in their field is invaluable. I have exciting plans for the future of my business, and I know I can always turn to Boost for support along the way.”

Enjoyed this? Read more from Tim Aldred

Latest news

1

Velocity seals Airbus extension worth up to $54m Velocity Composites Has Announced Its Entry Into The Us Market

Velocity seals Airbus extension worth up to $54m

08 Oct 2025

2

First speakers confirmed for Lancashire Business Day Dave Walker with Richard Slater at Lancashire Business Day

First speakers confirmed for Lancashire Business Day

08 Oct 2025

3

Hemmings steps down as PNE chairman as hunt begins for new investors Craig Hemmings

Hemmings steps down as PNE chairman as hunt begins for new investors

08 Oct 2025

4

Chamber calls for three council county Lancashire County Council County Hall

Chamber calls for three council county

08 Oct 2025

5

Victorian Plumbing reports strong financial performance Victorian Plumbing Leyland

Victorian Plumbing reports strong financial performance

07 Oct 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

Empowering franchise growth in the North West
TFA Event - Empowering Franchise Growth.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
09 Oct 2025 - 09 Oct 2025

Empowering franchise growth in the North West

Forbes Solicitors Sceptre Way Walton Summit Centre , Preston, PR5 6AW

08:00 - 10:00

Empowering Franchise Growth in the North West
Empowering Franchise Growth in the North West event
LBV Hub Seminars
09 Oct 2025 - 09 Oct 2025

Empowering Franchise Growth in the North West

Forbes Solicitors, Sceptre Way, Walton Summit Centre, PR5 6AW, PR6 6AW

08:00 - 10:00

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – Oct 10th
Ai 10.10.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
10 Oct 2025 - 10 Oct 2025

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – Oct 10th

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 12:00

Unlocking major project opportunities in the North West
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
15 Oct 2025 - 15 Oct 2025

Unlocking major project opportunities in the North West

Strathmore Hotel, Morecambe, LA4 5AP

08:00 - 10:00

The New Employee Rights Landscape: Day One Compliance Essentials
EventBrite NORi - 15th Oct 2025 Webinar.png.png
LBV Hub Webinar
15 Oct 2025 - 15 Oct 2025

The New Employee Rights Landscape: Day One Compliance Essentials

Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Teams, PR253XH

13:30 - 15:00

The Autumn Re set - pour me a wine
LBV Advert_Autumn Reset 1200 x 630px.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Oct 2025 - 16 Oct 2025

The Autumn Re set - pour me a wine

The Artistry House , Preston , PR1 3JJ

17:30 - 19:30

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Header (26).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Oct 2025 - 16 Oct 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

October Freelancer Meet-Up
LBV Hub Networking
16 Oct 2025 - 16 Oct 2025

October Freelancer Meet-Up

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

HR Essentials for pubs, bars and licensed venues
EventBrite NORi - 22nd Oct Webinar.png.png
LBV Hub Webinar
22 Oct 2025 - 22 Oct 2025

HR Essentials for pubs, bars and licensed venues

Online - Teams, Leyland, PR253XH

13:30 - 15:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV124 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin