Stokes Sauces' Supermarket Success - Suffolk producer makes inroads into multiples

Stokes Sauces, the main brand of Essfoods, the Suffolk-based producers of quality sauces, condiments and jams, has started the year with contracts with three of the main UK supermarkets: Waitrose, Tesco and Sainsbury's.

Stokes has won its first national listing with Waitrose which, from March 2011, will see 165 stores around the country stock its best selling product, glass jars of Stokes Real Mayonnaise, made with extra virgin olive oil, Freedom Food free range egg, unrefined raw cane sugar and Dead Sea salt. Stokes already has a limited number of products, including the mayonnaise, in Waitrose on a regional basis, supplied via a distributor. This national listing marks its first direct contract with Waitrose.

The new squeezy-format bottle (for products Stokes Real Mayonnaise, Stokes Real Tomato Ketchup, Stokes Real Brown Sauce, Stokes Real Chilli Ketchup) which was designed specifically for the supermarkets and the consumer, who views these items as staples, was listed for Sainsbury's in the East Anglian region from the end of last month.

Tesco has also decided to list the same range of squeezy version products in its stores in the Eastern Region and these will start appearing in Tesco outlets in March.

Currently, Stokes Sauces' range of approximately 75 products in glass jar format can be found primarily in independent fine food retailers such as delis and farm shops. This recent supermarket success highlights Stokes owner and Managing Director Rick Sheepshanks' brand strategy: "For six years, Stokes and its sister brands have been found primarily in fine food outlets. The independent retailer remains an important focus for the company's future but to really thrive, the brand needs to be recognised more widely. We believe it will actually benefit our independent clients to have greater exposure via the supermarkets for these selected few products. Greater availability of these key Stokes products, particularly the mayonnaise and the wider recognition of the quality the brand stands for, will be good news for all concerned."

Stokes Sauces was named Best Producer" at the Suffolk Food & Drink Awards 2011. The full range of products can be seen and purchased via the website: www.stokessauces.co.uk

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For further information or copies of photographs/logo contact Teresa Harman on 07770 425068 or email her at stokes@th-marketing.co.uk Editors Notes

Stokes Sauces www.stokessauces.co.uk Rendlesham Hall Rendlesham Woodbridge Suffolk, IP12 2RG Telephone: 01394 462150

Managing Director - Rick Sheepshanks Essfoods founded: 2004 Number of employees: 25 Current Number of products: 75 Key Brands: Stokes - modern; keeping pace with today's lifestyle trends; cosmopolitan Suffolk Mud - traditional; embodying old fashioned values as in "as grandma used to make" English Staverton Ewe - High fruit content jams and marmalades

Stokes Sauces is the main brand for Essfoods which was founded by Rick Sheepshanks at Rendlesham Hall, Near Woodbridge in Suffolk in May 2004. Born from the belief that food should be honest, clean and taste delicious, rather than quality being compromised in order to reach a price point. "The best you can buy in a jar" - Rick Sheepshanks' vision in reviving favourite British sauces, chutney, jams and curds using traditional methods and the finest ingredients such as unrefined raw cane sugar, dead sea salt and Freedom Food free range eggs.

Products referred to in release:

Stokes Real Mayonnaise Great Taste Award Winner - 2005. Made with award-winning extra virgin olive oil, free range egg, unrefined raw cane sugar and Dead Sea salt. Smooth, rich and delicious. Use over leafy salad or as a dip. Stir into creme frache for a light and flavoursome dressing. Use as a base for a variety of unusual and interesting dips. Stokes Real Tomato Ketchup Great Taste Award Winner - 2005. A ketchup that actually tastes of tomatoes - Italian tomatoes. Great with fish and chips, bangers and mash, English breakfasts, cottage pie .... Stokes Real Brown Sauce A rich and spicy pouring sauce. Try with bacon sandwiches, French toast, shepherds' pie, sausages ... Stokes Real Chilli Ketchup Great Taste Award Winner - 2005. A twist on the best - savour the rich tomato taste and then feel the heat of the spices kicking in. Spice up your shepherd's pie, potato wedges, fish cakes

PHOTOS: High res available on request