We’ve been treated to an outstanding summer, but with the cooler days arriving and autumn just around the corner, now’s the time to get stocked up on foods which are wholesome & filling. Watmuff & Beckett’s range of soups & risottos are not only full of flavour, they’re quick & simple to prepare, providing the perfect lunch or supper option.
Lucy Housley, Marketing Manager at Watmuff & Beckett tells us a little more about the business, products and how to make the most of the range over the coming months.
Tell us a brief history of the company
Started by a pair of childhood friends obsessed with good food, Watmuff & Beckett is based in Somerset and has a small team of dedicated soup and risotto lovers who work to turn sustainably sourced and farmed British produce into scrumptious and convenient meals. Whenever we go beyond the borders of the UK, it’s for a good reason – either to share our products with overseas fans or to buy only the best Italian Carnaroli Risotto Rice. It has the best consistency, texture and flavour and it best of all it can withstand being cooked twice (once by us, once by our customers). We can’t find an equivalent rice in the UK, but we only buy direct from Italian farms which meet our standards and ethics.
Why are your soups & risottos different?
All our products can be ready in less than 5 minutes. Rather than needing to buy all the raw ingredients we’ve made it easy for our customers to enjoy simple, but delicious meals, made as they would be at home. They are also all Gluten Free and there is a good selection for vegetarians too.
All the farms we source from conform to strict UK and EU regulations to ensure that the ingredients we buy to make our award-winning soups and risottos is environmentally friendly, sustainable and kind. We aren’t afraid to use wonky veg and all our packaging is recyclable too, meaning we try to reduce waste wherever possible.
There’s many reasons why our products are special and I guess that’s why we’ve won awards for them all. Not being biased at all!
Are there any interesting ways of how to use the soups or risottos?
Our Risotto products make a great base for exciting recipes and compliments many side dishes. Our favourite here at Watmuff and Beckett HQ is our Arancini Balls with melted Mozzarella. So easy to make and great for sharing… if you feel like sharing them that is!
All our recipes can be found at: www.watmuffandbeckett.co.uk/kitchen-blog
If you weren’t in your current role, what you like to do instead?
I’m definitely a foodie, so love spending time in the kitchen (and eating), but if I had to choose another job, then I’d definitely love to be a Florist. I love gardening and cut all my own home-grown seasonal flowers to enjoy every summer.
What is your favourite product in your range?
It has to be our Chestnut Mushroom, Lemon and Thyme Risotto. Hands down the best Mushroom Risotto I’ve had. Plus it’s the base ingredient for my favourite Arancini Balls!
Where is your favourite place to eat & take some time out?
We have a little bistro/café near home called Mes Amis. It’s located in the village of Beckington near Frome and serves the best lunches, but equally is a great place to meet a friend and have a coffee with cake (their cakes are pretty awesome too). My husband and I are keen to support local independents always, but especially now more than ever.
What food/drink trends do you think we are going to see over the next 12 months?
2020 has been a very different and somewhat challenging year, in so many ways. From industry research we know that Brits are still pining for the delights of restaurant-grade food whilst staying safe in the comfort of their own home and want easy-meal solutions which are healthy.
April data shows the average household was eating up to six meals a day whilst at home under lockdown. This is primarily because people are juggling work and family life. Although lots of people probably turned to cooking from scratch with the free-time brought on by being at home, in reality, the tension of juggling work and family life pressures whilst maintaining a healthy meal routine, will continue to create the demand for quick and easy lunch solutions that can be on the desk or table within minutes. So for me , the requirement for “heat it, and eat it” lunch and dinner meal solutions will always be present.
If you had to eat just one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
One thing? Biscuits! And if I had to choose just one variety – it would have to be Cadbury’s Milk Chocolate Fingers.
More information on Watmuff & Beckett’s soups & risottos can be found on page 26 of our 20/21 Retail & Deli Brochure.
