Harrogate family's 'mission' to reclaim full ownership of UK's biggest independent sausage makers
The Harrogate founders of one of the largest private employers in North Yorkshire have taken a new step towards reclaiming full family ownership of the business.
Food firm HECK!, whose origins lie in Harrogate couple Andrew and Debbie Keeble who founded their first firm The Harrogate Sausage Company 20 years ago, is currently in the process of buying back its equity stake, eventually returning the business to full family ownership after a successful 11-year investment partnership with Panoramic.
Britain’s largest independent sausage and burger maker, HECK! employs approximately 130 people from its base near Bedale and its sausages are sold throughout the UK in Tesco, ASDA, Morrisons, Booths and Waitrose.
The phenomenally successful multi-generation company, still run by the Keeble family, reported a turnover of £32.2 million in the last financial year, up 30.6 per cent, with operating profit rising to £1.29m following a period of operational modernisation and accelerated innovation.
The results mark the conclusion of a lengthy strategic investment phase that strengthened manufacturing capability, improved efficiency and significantly increased the brand’s national retail presence.
HECK! co-founder Jamie Keeble said: “Our partnership with Panoramic has been fantastically supportive and productive.
“It’s now reaching the natural end of its term, bringing the business back to full family ownership.
"We are excited to celebrate the success of the investment period, while strengthening HECK!’s foundations for the future.”
Growth has been achieved against a challenging backdrop for UK manufacturers.
The last year has seen HECK! absorb National Minimum Wage increases, higher National Insurance contributions, packaging taxes and ongoing labour market pressures, while continuing to invest in automation, brand building and product development.
Recent upgrades to production capability have improved throughput and resilience, reducing reliance on hard-to-recruit roles and strengthening service levels to retailers.
The HECK! brand is now the second best-selling sausage brand by spend in the fresh category in the UK.
But the North Yorkshire firm is not stopping there.
It is intent on further closing the gap with market leader Richmond with a strategy which takes on board growing consumer awareness of healthier options and a move away from ultra processed food.