Sausages taste of success

The Cumberland sausages are proving popular

Sausages made by a local food producer in Cumbria are proving to be a sizzling success story on supermarket shelves.

In September, Plumgarths farm shop complex just outside Kendal struck a unique deal to sell 80 products from local producers to Asda.

Plumgarths Cumberland Sausage has proved to be a winner with customers and is outselling all other sausages in the Asda store.

Local meats, cheeses and other products from 20 local farms are also performing well next to national brands.

It is very hard work keeping up with demand

Steve Chambers, Plumgarths

Steve Chambers of Plumgarths, told BBC Radio Cumbria production had been increased to keep up with demand for the bangers.

He said: "They are doing amazingly well... it makes them the best selling sausages in the country within the Asda group.

"We are very excited about it. It is outselling everything they do, right through the range.

"We are not surprised, because we always knew the quality, but you never really know how these things will go."

Mr Chambers said they were producing over one tonne or 1.2 miles of sausage every week for the Kendal store.

He said Asda hoped to extend the range to their Barrow and Carlisle stores in the New Year.

'Good product'

"It is very hard work keeping up with demand," he said.

"There has been a lot of capital investment in machinery and in staff, but we are know it is going to pay off because we have got real confidence in this product."

Mr Chambers said the banger's success was good news for local farmers.

"We buy local pork to make the sausages, we are adding value to the product and we are paying more to the farmer.

"At the end of the day we believe we are giving the consumer a better product."