HECK food company launches enterprise scheme for fellow businesses post-Brexit

HECK is launching a new mentoring scheme to support and encourage other Yorkshire food businesses.

This is in light of grant funding being pulled in the county, after Brexit.

HECK is said to be one of the fastest-growing UK businesses in the food and drink sector, on track to make £30m in 2019.

As co-founder Andrew Keeble explained: “For us, it’s all about doing things differently and innovating all the time. We were the first to launch a chicken sausage and now have a full range of fantastic plant based vegan sausages and burgers.

“We’re the first company to launch a vegan breakfast sausage. Our ‘What The Heck’ approach allows us to do things differently and we’re now hoping to inspire the next generation of food business in Yorkshire.”

Farmers turned producers, Heck built its £30m factory on the old family farm and tapped into the trend of clean, lean and tasty eating, by launching a healthy range of chicken and pork sausages and burgers, gluten and dairy-free and vegan ranges.

Along the way, the company have invested in the best of engineering excellence, and recently installed a £1m sausage machine that makes up to 60,000 sausage an hour.

Keen to share their expertise and enthusiasm, HECK founders Andrew and Debbie and their experienced team are now looking for local businesses who would like some guidance on their next steps in the industry.

Companies will be invited to an open day in April for a brainstorm to begin the process of establishing a centre of food excellence in the Vale of York - or the ‘Silicon Valley’ of food as Andrew describes it.

Ten small regional startups will be given the opportunity to join this community.