GLOUCESTERSHIRE’S HOT SAUCE MEN SEE RISING SALES

Does Gloucestershire produce the UK’s most successful hot sauces? It would seem so.

Hot sauce brand NAFF has seen significant success over the last 12 months as it reports a doubling of sales in the last year, according to James Horwood, director of Stroudbased Kitchen Garden Foods which owns the brand.

And so has Tubby Tom’s, which has boosted production from 13,000 bottles a year to an impressive 166,000.

Over the past four years, Tubby Tom’s, based in the Forest of Dean, has grown from a solo operation to having six staff, and a new unit producing a huge range of handmade sauces and seasonings, ranging from a signature BBQ sauce to an innovative maple bacon dust.

But his ambition doesn’t stop there. Tom added: “In the next four years, we hope to be using a kitchen three times the size of our current one. This will hopefully make us even more efficient, and as well as the new kitchen, we want to have more people working in it — adding to the already amazing team we have here. The key for us is to ensure that everything we produce still remains of the highest quality as our consistency and unique flavours are what really

Gloucester Food Dock reveals brands at new £3.5m destination

Gloucester Food Dock has revealed the names of the first three food and drink businesses confirmed for its new £3.5 million waterfront dining destination.

Sibling Distillery, Stroud-based Strip Steak Bar and Gloucester-based Wholly Gelato will be among 15 new businesses welcoming customers when the development opens later this summer.

Gloucester Food Dock, which overlooks Victoria Basin at the bottom of Southgate Street, will be home to up to 15 artisan food and drink businesses drawn from makes us stand out in a competitive market.”

Gloucestershire and the surrounding region. Two 19th century brick buildings are being extensively refurbished and reconfigured to incorporate external dining terraces and stand-alone wooden-clad units.

Quality is just as important to James at Kitchen Garden Foods, which also produces the successful Wolfy’s porridge brand. “Having just finished our 21/22 year, business is better than ever. We’ve secured lots of new customers and our sales are the highest they’ve been in our history. We’re certainly back to pre-pandemic levels, and some.”

Stroud based Autonumis acquired by South African manufacturer

Autonumis, the Stroud-based manufacturer of refrigerated drinks dispensers, bottle coolers and vending machines, has been acquired by Peak Analysis & Automation, part of Directech Global, based in South Africa.

Established in 1962, Autonumis employs 52 people and supplies its products globally.

Graham Keen, General Manager, of Autonumis which is based at Aston Down near Minchinhampton, said: “We’re thrilled to be joining Directech. The group’s backing provides critical investment to support our operations and our growth ambitions. Our team has been incredible during some challenging times during the pandemic. The interest from Directech is testament to the skills, experience and drive of all our people.”