In the heart of the Welsh Black Mountains, Helen Dunne produces her own range of preserves in her home kitchen in Talgarth. Her homemade luxury jams, chutneys and conserves are completely free of artificial flavourings and preservatives, with a high fruit content and low sugar. Launched in March 2020 during the first lockdown, Black Mountains Preserves is testament that even during a pandemic it is possible to start a successful food business from home.
Black Mountains Preserves first contacted Food Centre Wales in the spring of 2020 and attended an online start-up session, which explained the support available funded through Project HELIX. Helen then went on to work with a food technologist.
Food Centre Wales helped Helen with HACCP, to ensure all correct procedures were used from the beginning, which has enabled Helen to adopt effective systems for setting up her own production.
Benefits of the Support
Support and encouragement received from Food Centre Wales’ food technologists has given Helen the confidence to believe in her ideas and to continue producing on a larger scale.
Helen plans to continue to work with Food Centre Wales to expand the production and increase the range, whilst maintaining the ‘homemade’ process.
Food Centre Wales played a pivotal role in my HACCP planning and implementation; most importantly being there as a sounding board to discuss ideas and new creations.”