Hand-cooked potato chips producer Burts Snacks has secured a region-wide listing with supermarket giant Tesco.
The two businesses have struck a deal for three flavours of Plymouth-based Burts’ crisps to be sold in more than 60 stores across the West Country – from Yeovil to Ilfracombe and Gloucester to Helston.
Sea salt, mature cheddar and spring onion, and sea salt and malt vinegar flavours will now be available at the stores, all in 150g bags.
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The listing is the latest success for award-winning Burts, which began life in 1995 with Richard Thomas Burt and his wife Linda travelling across Devon and Cornwall to farm shops, delis and pubs to sell their potato chips which are made from local ingredients.
Dave McNulty, managing director at Burts, said: “We are proud of our South West heritage, and this contract with Tesco will mean more people across the region will be able to experience Britain’s finest hand-cooked crisps.”
Since Burts’ modest beginnings in Kingsbridge, the company has quickly expanded and in 2006 moved into premises at Belliver Way, in Roborough, on the edge of Plymouth, where today it employs more than 200 people.
Hannah Farrington, Tesco’s local buyer for England, said she was confident Burts’ potato chips would be well received by the supermarket’s customers.
She said: “We’re always proud to work with our local suppliers, and this new line further strengthens the range of products that we can offer Tesco shoppers across the South West.”
The branding on the sea salt and sea salt and malt vinegar 150g bags will feature Burts’ recently announced partnership with the RNLI and charity’s Float To Live messaging.
The new listing comes on the back of a number of successes enjoyed by Burts in recent years. The business has been a winner at the Made in the South West, Taste of the West, the Vending Industry Awards, the Healthy Food and Drink Awards and the Plymouth Live Business Awards.
The company, which also has a key factory in Leicester, suffered when pubs, bars, delis, restaurants and cafes were forced to close during three lockdowns.
But with key supermarket contracts, the business was able to weather the Covid storm and invested heavily in both its plants during the lockdown.
It is planning more investment, launching a £1m poster advertising campaign in the South West this summer and has some other “exciting” developments planned, though is keeping them under wraps at the moment.
Prior to the pandemic arriving in the UK in early 2020, Burts Snacks had seen extensive growth, of 300% over five years and a 15% hike in sales in 2019.
