Catering for curry-craving Brits
soon be able to find that increasingly British dish - curry - on
supermarket shelves there. Bombay Bangers is to begin exporting its
range of Indian convenience foods to the island, catering almost
entirely for British customers there.
Picture yourself on the beach on the Spanish island of Tenerife. All of a sudden, you get a craving for a curry - an itch which will be difficult to scratch in the land of the paella.
But not any more. A British-owned company is set to become a saviour for thousands of UK holidaymakers and expatriates with a craving for the Anglo-Indian dish.
Bombay Bangers, based in the south of England, has begun exporting its Quick Curry Fix range of convenience food to the island with the help of Trade Partners UK, the government organisation which provides support services for UK companies trading overseas.
The Buckinghamshire-based manufacturer of sauces, chutneys and spicy sausages will be supplying stores all over the popular holiday island from this month with its Quick Curry Fix and range of spicy sauces. The Quick Curry Fix is a wrap-style sandwich which can be microwave cooked in minutes.
The company, which has already had export success in Europe, met with Tenerife-based UK importer, Mirpuri CISI whilst exhibiting at the International Food Exhibition in London earlier this year.
"Through Trade Partners UK, companies are getting to know our brand and Mirpuri sought us out at the IFE this year. After a few discussions, a contract was signed for over £2,000 (€2,800) worth of goods and we will be supplying a range of our products to capture both the tourist and expat markets," said Maria Hellyer, co-director of Bombay Bangers.
She added that there was a lot of scope for the company's products on the island, as curry is now ranked as the most popular food in the UK and Tenerife is recognised as a very popular UK tourist destination.
Bombay Bangers started in 2000 when Patricia Forbes, a former professional caterer, rediscovered her family's private collection of Anglo-Indian recipes compiled during the days of the Raj. The inspiration for the sausages came during a garden party in the summer of 2000 over a discussion concerning Anglo-Indian foods.
Bombay Bangers' sausages are available in lamb, chicken, pork and beef varieties. The Quick Curry Fix is available in lamb, vegetable and chicken tikka masala. The company also produces a range of six cook-in sauces from korma to vindaloo strength, as well as a range of pickles including Raj Mint Relish and Calcutta Club Chutney.
British companies seeking more information about how the UK government can help them to export their products should visit the Trade Partners UK website.
