This month we take a closer look at Love British Food member Scrubby Oak Fine Foods Ltd, based in Kings Lynn, Norfolk, with Robin Slade.

Scrubby Oak Fine Foods are a small family run business set up by Robin and Debbie Slade, founded in 2005 now in their Fifteenth Year of trading from their Home in Sporle Norfolk. They specialize in making wide range of Hand Made, Additive and Gluten Free English Vinegars, Preserves and Pickled Products Using whole Natural, raw ingredients grown or sourced locally. Their Vinegars are Grown from the raw ingredients with a “ Vinegar Mother “ a living culture that turns the natural sugars in fruits and roots into Vinegar. The Vinegars are then used as the basis of our Preserves, Pickled Fruit and Onions The twenty three Vinegar range comprises of Flower, Fruit, Root, Spiced and Citrus Vinegars. That are very Culinary versatile and may be used in both Sweet and Savoury dishes. The Pickled Products include three types of Pickled Onions a traditional Heritage Onion, that “Bites back” Pudding Onions a sweet pickled Onion you can eat with Fruit Cake and Iced cream and Chilli Pickled Onions, We make Ginger Pickled and Spiced Pears, Herb Apple jellies and Plum Jellies. New products in development are English Fruit Balsamic Vinegars available shortly. Products are sold in attractive Glass bottles and miniature trio gift packs, with Preserves and Pickled products in Glass jars. Their packing and web site has a guide to product uses and recipe ideas. All packaging is easily recyclable and we supply refills for our Vinegars.

Order from www.scrubbyoakfinefoods.co.uk

Why do you do what you do?

We have a real passion for producing Natural, Additive  & Gluten-Free foods

What do you enjoy most about your job?

The creativity involved in developing new flavoursome products and revitalising old recipes.

What do you least enjoy about your job?

Hand peeling Pickling Onions.

What achievement are you most proud of?

Having built our business up from very humble beginnings in our kitchen into a company that is now in the fifteenth Year

Why should we buy British produce?

Buying British supports the local economy of communities from the Grower to the independent retailer and reduces food miles. Knowing where your food comes from and how it is produced is important.

How do you think we should be promoting British?

We should all try to buy direct from our local grower or rearer of livestock either from the Farmgate, through Farm shops or other local independent retailers.

If you were an advertising executive what slogan would you use to promote British food?

British Food Feeding the life and Soul of the local community!

What’s on the menu this evening?

Fresh Leg of British Lamb with all the trimmings and home made Mint Sauce

How can people get hold of your produce?

We sell through our E-commerce site, Independent retailers and at regional Food Shows.