Family mixing it with media
A SOUP-ER Weardale business has become a whirlwind of media attention, with ITV film crews visiting for the second time on Monday.The Weardale Soup Company, run by Christine and Richard Peart and son David at Elm Cottage, Westgate, will be appearing on Dales Diaries and Field to Fork this summer.
Christine said: ³We thought things might become quieter when the hot weather arrived but the business is busier than ever.
³The film crews have been here and we are hoping to be able to set up a shop on the side of the house selling our food and other food produced in Weardale.
All the food produced by the family is organic and gluten free.
Spring and summer soups, including cream of celery and asparagus are flying of the shelves.
Christine said: ³We get so much support from local people, they come and knock on the door and we deliver locally too.
³We also have regular customers who stay on nearby caravan sites in the summer season.
They come and tell us about their holidays and keep us up to date which is lovely.
The Weardale Soup Company supplies to farm shops in Rothbury and as far afield as Manchester, and has gone from strength to strength since it was founded two years ago.
Success has come through the hard work of each family member: in the beginning Christine and Richard worked 17-hour days with no time off.
Christine said: ³We couldn¹t have kept that up forever or we would have burned out, so now it¹s just 15 hour days and we do try to get a day off.
³Richard was up at 4am on Tuesday morning and at Wetherby in York for 7am to buy stock.
³He then came back and did a full day¹s work which shows how much we are investing in this.² ³The film crew for Field to Fork were here for four hours and they were spot on.
³They even had lunch with us- soup and sandwiches of course!
³They filmed us making and packaging the soup and interviewed both myself and Richard.
³Luke Casey was lovely- very down to earth.² ³When the film crews arrived I think they expected us to have a factory in our back garden but it really is a genuine cottage industry done from our family kitchen.
The Field to Fork programmes will air in six weeks and The Weardale Soup Company will appear in an episode devoted to Weardale and Teesdale.
The Pearts¹ food range is all gluten free and they have recently launched quiche and scones suitable for a gluten-free diet.
Christine said: ³The next plan is biscuits ginger snaps and other favourites for customers with a sweet tooth.² With new lines, far flung customers, and a new shop front to think about:
will the Peart family ever tire of soup?
Christine said: ³Definitely not! Even when we have a day off we like to go to different places and see what they¹ve got.
³We get such a buzz from this and such a good response that it keeps us keen and ready to do more.² To find out more about what the Pearts have on offer, telephone 01388 517384 or email weardalesoup@aol.com