One of the UK's oldest family-owned food producers, Shaws gear up for a historic September birthday in a year with much to celebrate …

• 130 years of creating “chuffin' tasty” chutneys, salsas and relishes in the same Huddersfield mill since 1913
• Nationwide listing with Morrisons for the Everyday Range, with promotional offers just in time for the barbecue and picnic season and for British Sandwich Week (19 - 26 May)
• And 6th generation Annie Shaw joins the business to continue the rich family history …  

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1889 …The year that Charlie Chaplin was born, the year that the Savoy Hotel opened … and the year that George Shaw first opened Shaws Relish Works in Huddersfield. 

Across a bewilderingly diverse range, includingface creams, baking powder, marrowfat peas, vinegar and relishes, over 130 years and five generations of the Shaw family, the company settled into perfecting “reet proper” chutneys, relishes and salsas, which they continue to make in Huddersfield's Storths Mill, the former Victorian wool mill that they moved into back in 1913.

 “This is a year of looking back and forward,” says MD Jan Docker.“September will not only be a celebration of 130 years of resourceful survival by our forefathers, through some of modern history's most turbulent times. But, after six years of honing ranges, redesigning branding, curating original recipes and developing new ones, of having arrived today at a selection of exceptional chutneys and relishes across two targeted ranges that we are immensely proud of; and that are already driving significant, sustainable growth. Not least in the nationwide listing of our full Everyday Range with Morrisons. With such a legacy we are, after all, simply custodians of the company and my job is to pass it on, in good condition, to the next generation. Which now just happens to be called Annie!”

One promise … two ranges ... ten unique recipes … infinite applications …

Since 1889, the Shaws mantra has been 'quality at a fair price' and it this that unites two very distinct ranges of chutneys and relishes.

Everyday Range …

Chunky Mango Chutney | 300g | RRP: £1.35

Caramelised Red Onion Chutney | 310g | RRP: £1.35

Devilish Chilli Relish | 300g | RRP: £1.35

Mighty American Style Relish | 300g | RRP: £1.35

Heritage Collection …

Beetroot & Horseradish Chutney| 300g | RRP: £2.99

Piccalilli | 280g | RRP: £2.99

Caramelised Red Onion Chutney with Balsamic | 195g | RRP: £2.99

Fig & Honey Chutney | 195g | RRP: £2.99

Spiced Apricot & Ginger Chutney | 200g | RRP: £2.99

Whether the four classics of the tradition-with-a-twist Everyday Range or the innovative artisanal combinations of the five-strong Heritage Collection, Shaws are lifting cheese boards, meat platters, sandwiches and burgers to the next level; as well as offering a store cupboard saviour, capable of transforming the most mundane meal. Whether as a ready made dip, glaze or marinade, a pep-up for sauces or stir frys or a cooking ingredient for both sweet and savoury recipes, Shaws brings a depth, dimension and richness of flavours that is best described in that most technical of Yorkshire terms, “just chuffin' great”.

For a regularly growing resource of inspired original recipes, based on Shaws products and created by in-house food technologist Kate Pearson, go to: https://shaws1889.com/recipe-inspiration/

After 130 years, Yorkshire is sharing Shaws …

Shaws relishes and chutneys are widely available in Yorkshire independents and multiples, but their entire Everyday Range is available nationally through Morrisons stores for the first time, and is enjoying a price crunch '£1 jar'promo, just in time for the barbecue and picnic season and for British Sandwich Week (19 – 26 May).

 from 10th April to 2nd July 2019

Chunky Mango Chutney… Shaws' oldest recipe, created by Martin Shaw in 1984 and still their best seller, this is chunky mango pieces blended with ginger and chilli that works equally incredibly with cheese as with spicy food and stir frys.

300g | Morrisons normal RRP: £1.34 | Promo price: £1

Caramelised Red Onion Chutney… Shaws' signature chutney is a beautiful balance of crunchy, pickled red onions and sweet muscovado sugar. Very little isn't instantly upgraded by a delicious dollop, even the Sunday roast!

310g | Morrisons normal RRP: £1.34 | Promo price: £1

from 3rd July to 1st October 2019

Devilish Chilli Relish… Fresh tomatoes and sweet sultanas are blended with jalapeno and chipotle chillies for a smoky kick of a dip or to put some fire into a BBQ.

300g | Morrisons normal RRP: £1.34 | Promo price: £1

Mighty American Style Relish… Pickled gherkins, jalapenos and mustard with hints of mint and garlic, to bump up a burger, turn a hot dog into a top dog, add some spring to a lamb dish or even mix into mayo for a dip-to-die-for.

300g | Morrisons normal RRP: £1.34 | Promo price: £1

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Editors' notes …

The history …George Shaw founded Shaws Relish Works in Fitzwilliam Street, Huddersfield as a General Merchants and Chemists in 1889. With his two sons, Walter and Vincent, they built up the family business through an array of products including relishes, jams and pickles, marrowfat peas and baking powder. In 1913, they moved into the larger premises of Storths Mill, a former Victorian wool mill on Wakefield Road, where they remain today. Walter's sons, Norman and Malcolm, joined the business after WWI and developed the pickle manufacturing operation, followed by Norman's son Martin in 1953, who was a master vinegar brewer. In 1967, with his father and uncle nearing retirement, Martin spotted a news story about Terence Peace, a local lad who had just passed his Chartered Company Secretary exams with flying colours. Terence joined Shaws as company secretary and within two years was a director, marking the start of a wonderful friendship that continues today. The two families remain united by pickle when Martin's sons, Matthew and Daniel - the fifth Shaw generation - joined the business in the 1980s, and were joined by Terence's son Jim Peace. 

The team today …Chairman Matthew Shaw was joined in 2011 by Terence Peace's niece, Managing Director Jan Docker. She is supported by her fellow Director (and cousin) Jim Peace, by Commercial Category Manager  Michelle Heaney Firth, by Lesley Atkins, Sales & Brand Manager and by operations Manager, Alex Woodcock. They have all recently welcomedAnnie Shaw to the pickling fold. The sixth generation of Shaws. Annie has been coming to the mill since childhood and after graduating from Huddersfield University with a degree in Business Studies with Environmental Management, joined the company as a graduate trainee, learning not just the ropes, but every fibre of the business that is in her blood. And the family extends beyond that blood: several members of the Shaws loyal team have been with the company for between 10 and 15 years.

The products … In 2013, Jan began honing the Shaws unwieldy retail offer from 26 products to two targeted ranges – the Everyday Range of four classic lines and the five gourmet combinations of the Heritage Collection. All Shaws products are gluten free, suitable for vegans and vegetarians and use only British sugar and vinegar.They are developed in the NPD kitchen at Storths Mill by food technologist Kate Pearson, and join original recipes created by Annie Shaw's father, Daniel, and grandfather, Martin.

The process … In spite of housing a modern, BRC approved facility, even the old mill lends a historic hand, with a little help from gravity. Ingredients are delivered to the top floor, before being dropped down to the two steam-jacketed, open pans that were installed back in the 1980s. They, along with the famously soft Huddersfield water that first attracted the Victorian wool textile industry to the area, contribute to the distinctive flavours of Shaws products. Each cooker produces a 500 litre batch, which is dropped down to the next floor for bottling, using a jar loading machine that was installed in 1932. It is then left for the flavours to mature for up to 10 weeks. Shaws produce 30 - 40 tonnes of chutney and relish per week like this!

The stockists … The Shaws Everyday Range is available variously in Yorkshire branches of Asda, Coop and Tesco and in most Booths stores, and has anationwide listing with Morrisons. Shaws also supply foodservice via distributors The FoodFellas and export as far as Australia, New Zealand and Barbados; as well as supplying products to sandwich, ready meal and pie producers. The Heritage Range is available in delis, farm shops and independents across Yorkshire. Shaws is a proud member of DeliciouslyYorkshire.

Shaws on tour… drop by the Shaws stands for a natter and a sample at:

• The Foodhall, Great Yorkshire Show, Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate – 9 – 11 July
• Stand 74, Huddersfield Food & Drink, St George's Square, Huddersfield - 1 – 4 August
• Stand Q70, BBC Good Food Show, Olympia, London – 28 Nov – 1 Dec

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weblinks:

w:                   www.shaws1889.co.uk

tw / fb:           @shaws1889 / shaws.huddersfield

tw:                  @shaws 1889

Press enquiries:

Lisa Jones, Dandelion PR

e:                    lisa@dandelionpr.co.uk

t:                     07968 963456

tw / fb:           @dandylisa / dandelionPRUK

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