Northern indie beats off household names to be crowned ‘best pork pie accompaniment’

The UK’s number one pork pie brand looked to its social media followers in June to find the people’s favourite condiment to enjoy with a pork pie, and the results were surprising!

Based in Leeming Bar, North Yorkshire, Vale of Mowbray held its ‘Condiment World Cup’ with daily public votes on social media culminating in one product being crowned the champion of the people.

With the likes of Branston Pickle and Hellman’s Mayonnaise being featured as well as independent producers, the eventual winner by public vote was Calder’s Kitchen ‘Sillylilli’ – made by a family-owned company producing condiments to generational recipes.

Marketing manager, Jason Crowe said: “It was an exciting three weeks with people from all over the UK and indeed the world getting involved, and some cracking banter between the brands along the way.

“To see the winner being an independent, family-owned business from just up the road was a wonderful surprise, but based on tasting the product here at HQ it was well deserved.”

Vale of Mowbray, which was established in 1795 and bakes over 1.5 million pies every single week, held a three-week campaign seeing various ‘play offs’ between products, allowing the public to vote via social media to determine the final champion.

Mark Gatenby, managing director said: “I’m thrilled to see a local product come out on top, and have to agree that it does match perfectly with our pies. We’re in talks with Calder’s Kitchen to see where the result might lead, but for now – a great result for an inspirational independent business.”

Andrew Calder, managing director of Calder’s Kitchen said: “It was great to be involved in the campaign and an honour to be selected to take part, but to see our family recipe crowned the overall winner – it would make grandad so proud. Thank you to all who took part, and here’s to putting the North on the map!”