Chef turned entrepreneur Barrington Douglas is hoping his pork pie with a Caribbean twist will launch him into the big time.
Barrington, 47, who runs Huddersfield restaurant Discovery Bay, turned food producer with his own range of pies, sauces and chutneys.
Yesterday his jerk pork pies hit the shelves at 35 Tesco stores across Yorkshire and the North East including Huddersfield, Brighouse, Batley and Cleckheaton.
The Jamaican-inspired pies, made by Huddersfield-based Andrew Jones Pies, won a gold award at the 2014 British Pie Awards.
The pies will be supplied to Tesco’s through The Locally Sourced Food Company, of Thirsk, a firm which helps smaller producers break into the big supermarkets.
Barrington and business partner Richard Dennis were at the Tesco store in Huddersfield and there were people waiting even before the pies were put on display.
“There were lots of people wanting them – apparently all the staff couldn’t wait either – so they will be going fast,” said Barrington.
“It’s a proud moment for both me and Richard. We have worked hard to get where we are.”
The pies were given a prominent position in the chiller aisle right next to top-selling Caribbean treat Island Delight patties.
“We’ve got a prime spot and they will be flying off the shelves.”
Barrington, who has worked with celebrity chefs Gary Rhodes, Gordon Ramsay and Marco Pierre White, launched Discovery Bay when he was 40, investing his life savings.
He recently opened a Barrington’s deli in Huddersfield town centre – and revealed that the deli and the move into Tesco was all part of a bigger plan.
Barrington wants to franchise his deli operation and aims to have 10 within five years.
His hot pepper sauce and two chutneys are also on Asda’s radar and Barrington said: “What we want is product placement in the supermarkets who will then help build our brand.
“Once people know about us we can roll out the deli franchises. We have five people already lined up to take on a franchise. They will train at our Huddersfield deli and then launch out on their own. That is our five-year plan.”
