RESURGENCE OF HOME BAKING IS BOON TO FLOUR MILL

The resurgence of home-cooking and baking during the three lockdowns has been good news for a sixth-generation Shiptonunder-Wychwood flour mill.

During the last lockdown Matthews Cotswold Flour saw an increase of an incredible 6,000 per cent year on year through its website.

Three years ago, the latest generation, 29-year-old Bertie Matthews, took over as managing director and he’s on a mission to offer the best specialist flour in Great Britain. This means experimenting with ideas, such as stoneground milling of ancient and heritage grains, and developing the master bakers of the future through its Cotswold Flour Baking Club.

Matthews currently employs a team of 30, made up of millers, bakers, packers and drivers delivering across the UK. The mill sells direct to home bakers all over the UK via its website or for click and collect.

It also sells flour to artisan and master bakers in the Cotswolds and across the UK.

Bertie said: “When my family built this mill in 1912 it was part of the big change in milling across the UK. There were thousands of mills before that – today there are only about 20 milling companies.

“The traditional way to mill grain is with stones, but in the early 20th century the industry moved to milling with steel rollers. They use less energy and have a larger surface area so they are faster –although that can make the process hotter. Stoneground is slower and cooler – and needs more input.

“In this mill we have both – because there are benefits to both. But we have upgraded our stoneground operation as it is important to have flour with the added level of nutrients.

“Ninety eight per cent of flour in the UK is produced by big commercial mills – we’re not one of those. Instead, we are investing in people and experience.”

This year Bertie and a group of local farmers launched the Cotswold Grain Partnership. “We want our grain to come from local farms. We are trying to lower the food miles, put money into local bank accounts and support local farmers, so we are trying to encourage farmers to grow alternative types of grain, like spelt and rye, and other heritage grains.”

The partnership is also encouraging large farms with storage facilities to help hold on to their neighbour’s grain as well as their own grain between harvests –so it can be used when needed, rather than suffer the uncertainties of a fluctuating market.

“If you are spending a bit more on flour, you are getting a better quality product and that price is passed down to the farmers. By buying through an independent mill like ours, you are helping local farmers.”

British Honey buys Union Distillers

Honey, spirits and now sanitiser producer, The British Honey Company, has bought Leicestershire-based Union Distillers.

Launched in 2014 in the village of Yarnton in Oxfordshire, The British Honey Company owns more than 275 hives, and sources honey only from bee farmers accredited by The Bee Farmers Association. It also has its own fully computerised 1,000 litre capacity copper pot still, which it says is the only one of its kind in the UK for the guaranteed production of high quality spirits.

The company also owns a growing collection of award-winning spirits brands.

The purchase of Union Distillers wasn’t its first acquisition. British Honey, which floated on the Aquis Stock Exchange Growth Market last year, has also bought the brands of the London Distillery Company (Dodd’s Organic Gin, rye and single malt whiskeys), and secured a partnership agreement with English Heritage to produce its gins, and launch an affordable luxury spirits range, 1606.

Last year it also developed an alcohol sanitiser in response to the Covid-19 outbreak.

The British Honey Company now plans to open a second distillery on Oxfordshire’s Tusmore Estate, expected later this year, where it will produce a Tusmore Single Estate Triple Distilled Premium English Whiskey to add to its Single Malt Tusmore Whiskey.

British Honey aims to create a multicategory brand portfolio and plans to install a new canning line and boost production at Union Distillers. The combined capacity will enable the production of three million bottles, seven million cans and five million miniatures this year.