Hawkshead Relish

The Hawkshead Relish Company provides a truly Cumbrian gastronomic experience as artisan producers of award-winning preserves. Over 100 handmade culinary creations have established it at the forefront of regional speciality cuisine and earned a discerning following from celebrity chefs to members of the Royal family. Mark and Maria Whitehead began Hawkshead Relish with a passion for creating not only exceptional produce but in a way that would provide the community with a local industry that would help support the rural economy. "We are as much part of the locality, as the locality is part of us," said Maria. Their ethos of only using quality ingredients from local suppliers is also extended to the exclusion of artificial colourings, flavourings and preservatives.

Working with The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop

"Grasmere Gingerbread is synonymous with the Lake District and the long established culinary traditions that have entwined themselves into the fabric and nature of our unique area," said Mark. "We were delighted to work with this renowned business and to craft some exclusive culinary creations. Our shared love of our regional traditions and building a sustainable rural economy echoes our ethos of ensuring that the Lake District will provide a future for the next generation to maintain and enjoy!"

Visit the Hawkshead Relish website - www.hawksheadrelish.com

Products Sold:

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Invite you to the do .co.uk

Invite you to the do .co.uk was established in 2005 after bride-to-be Leanne Harkness spent several frustrating weeks fruitlessly searching for suitable stationery for her wedding. After chatting to her mother Dawn, who had worked in arts and crafts for many years, the duo decided to combine their skills and created "perfect" cards for Leanne's special day. Not only that, but the seeds of a special business partnership were sown. "We really made the perfect partnership," explained Leanne, "as the combination of my computer skills and my mother's handcraft abilities started to produce some inspiring and original results." As the company's reputation grew, demand soared for their designer bespoke cards and stationery. Leanne was delighted when the Grasmere Gingerbread Shop approached her to make special cards for their renowned business. "It really touched my heart making these gorgeous little gingerbread cards as I absolutely love making unique cards for special occasions," added Dawn. Invite you to the do.co.uk now offer customers a wide range of cards and stationery - including place cards, table triangles, cake boxes and invitations - and are always willing to weave in new and inspirational ideas to help celebrate a customer's special occasion!

Working with The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop

"After spending many weekends in Grasmere as a child there has always been a special place in my heart for the Grasmere Gingerbread shop," said Leanne. "I was delighted when Joanne Wilson approached me about designing some unique cards for her. I love the Lake District and I love keeping things local in Cumbria, so I couldn't have been happier to be associated with her and her successful Cumbrian business."

Visit the Invite you to the do website - www.inviteyoutothedo.co.uk

Products Sold:

Gingerbread couple card with hearts - £1.65
Gingerbread man and woman card - £1.65
Handmade Wooden gingerbread man card - £2.75

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Leanne can also decorate our wedding favour boxes - please call for further information.
To see wedding favour options please click here

Kendal Cordials

Kendal Cordials was established in June 2009, when Mike and Helen Hindle decided to have an alcohol-free fortnight. "We went out and bought a range of cordials so that we would have something to sip at in the evenings," explained Mike. "However, all the cordials we found were a bit disappointing had extremely high sugar content and were full of artificial ingredients, so we decided to have a bash at making our own!" And having made elderflower cordial in the past, the couple understood the basic principles. "Mike is a real ginger fan, so we started experimenting with ginger cordial recipes until we came up with a cordial that we loved, and so did friends who tasted it," said Helen. "We were particularly pleased that we had come up with a cordial that was delicious but made entirely from natural ingredients. One friend asked us why our cordials were not available in shops, and Kendal Cordials was born. It has really snowballed since then and we now have a large range of cordials and soft drinks."

Working with The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop

"As a child, no visit to Grasmere was complete without the treat of a visit to the Grasmere Gingerbread shop. We knew that The Grasmere Gingerbread Company had a strong ethos of supporting and working with Cumbrian producers so we popped in for a chat and took along some Ginger Cordial. They loved it and immediately placed an order," said Mike. Then the shop asked if Kendal Cordials could produce an Old Fashioned Ginger Wine. "As is turned out, Mike's mum had a recipe her Granny used for making ginger wine and with a little tweak here and there, Sarah's Old Fashioned Ginger Wine began appearing on the shelves and in the Hampers at the Gingerbread Shop," explained Helen.

Visit the Kendal Cordials website - www.kendalcordials.co.uk

Products Sold:

Ginger Cordial - £2.95
Ginger Wine - £5.95
(Ginger Wine available in the Ulitmate Cumbrian Hamper - see opposite)

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Moorlands Candles

Currently celebrating its 20th anniversary, Alston-based Moorlands Candles was inspired by Danish candlemaker Kurt Saybe. Owner Ted Thompson and his small team produce quality hand-dipped products made from paraffin wax, vegetable oil and Yorkshire beeswax. The company has supplied the wholefood co-operative Suma for two decades and their beautifully decorated candles can be found at discerning arts and crafts shops. In addition the company sell a range of delightful candleholders made exclusively for them by Belltree Forge. On Millennium Night, Glastonbury Tor was illuminated by special outdoor flares made by Moorlands Candles.

Working with The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop

"I have been supplying ginger candles to The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop for about five or six years," explained Ted. "We get excellent publicity and orders through the association and it's really great that Joanne looks to work with and actively promote other small businesses in Cumbria. We use ginger and cinnamon to scent the Grasmere Gingerbread candles and paprika essence to colour them - they are exclusive to the shop and are very natural products."

Visit Moorlands Candles' website - www.moorlands-candles.co.uk

Products Sold:

Ginger Candles (traditional twin pack) - £2.75
(see opposite)
Stumpy Ginger Candle - £3.95

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Pure Lakes

The award-winning Pure Lakes, established by Sandra and Iain Blackburn in 2007, produces a range of natural skin care products including bath and body gels, facial skin care creams and dedicated ranges for men and babies. Sandra, who has a background in chemistry, ensures that all her ingredients are natural and kind to the skin. The company has won several business awards including those recognising their commitment to sustainability. It is based in Staveley, near Kendal.

Working with The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop

After Joanne of The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop approached Pure Lakes in 2010 to produce a dedicated ginger and orange hand cream, its subsequent sales success prompted an extension of the range into a body wash, body lotion and lip balm. "The ginger and orange essential oil mix was not one that we used in our Pure Lakes range so we were happy to work with The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop - which is an established and iconic brand - and create exclusive products for them," said Pure Lakes joint partner Iain Blackburn. "The success of the hand cream shows that customers of The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop are also interested in other products that are ginger-related which promotes extra interest in the shop and additional sales for us. It's a win-win situation and I think it is something other companies should be thinking of doing."

Visit Pure Lakes - www.purelakes.co.uk

Products Sold:

Sarah's Ginger Hand Balm for hard working hands - £4.95
Sarah's Uplifting Ginger Hand and Body Wash - £6.50
Sarah's Soothing Body Lotion - £7.50
Sarah's Nourishing Lip Balm - £3.95
Sarah's Special Gift Box which includes all of the above and a 6 piece presentation tin of Grasmere Gingerbread® - £29.95

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Romney's Kendal Mint Cake

Established in 1936 by the late Sam T Clarke, Romney's has remained a small family business and is now with the fourth generation of the founder's family. Their delicious Kendal Mint Cake achieved a priceless PR high when it was carried to the top of Mount Everest in May 1953 on the first successful expedition to the summit.

Working with The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop

"It is very important for smaller Cumbrian businesses to work together and during the summer months we supply several boxes of Kendal Mint Cake a week to The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop," said John Baron, director of Romney's Kendal Mint Cake. "We have hundreds of outlets throughout Cumbria but it is great to be sitting alongside Grasmere Gingerbread at the village shop. It attracts so many tourists every year and a lot of them will be walkers and climbers who like to pack a bar of Kendal Mint Cake."

Visit Romney's Kendal Mint Cake website - www.kendal.mintcake.co.uk

Products Sold:

White mint cake
Brown mint cake
Chocolate coated mint cake
Various prices.

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Runkels Crafts

German-born and former teacher Barbara Runkel's delightful gingerbread men evoke the rich history of wooden toy and decoration production in her native land. Hand-carved from a variety of sustainably harvested hardwoods such as oak, ash, elm, cherry, sycamore and walnut - and also from recycled sources such as disused beehives - her gingerbread men are available as a keyring, fridge magnet and hanging decoration from The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop. They also adorn the tops of the popular Wedding Favour boxes. Barbara, who lives in Kirkoswald, near Penrith, also makes a variety of wooden Christmas decorations which she sells at festive fairs, including Manchester and York, around the country.

Working with The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop

"It's been a fantastic working partnership as it gives me a steady income stream throughout the year," said Barbara. "I am constantly working - as it is a time-consuming business - but I am only really selling at Christmas time. So I was very pleased when Joanne Wilson approached me a few years ago and asked if I could supply The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop. It is a very popular tourist attraction and a lot of her customers get to see my work which they might not otherwise see."

Visit Runkels Crafts website - www.runkels-crafts.co.uk

Products Sold:

Wooden Gingerbread Man decoration - £2.95
Wooden Gingerbread Man Keyring - £2.95
Wooden Gingerbread Man Fridge Magnet - £2.95

The Toffee Shop

Established just after the First World War, The Toffee Shop in Penrith, a short drive from Junction 40 of the M6, is a shrine to those who love high-quality toffee and fudge. Described as the best fudge in the world by Lord Lichfield and the best fudge in England by Jancis Robinson, its success boils down to a simple recipe, superb ingredients and diligent stirring in eight brass pans by dedicated fudge makers! Similarly, the shop's wonderful toffee is handmade and packs a powerful punch. As an existing customer of The Toffee Shop through his business at Highgrove, Prince Charles visited the premises in 2003 and even had a go at stirring the toffee. The Toffee Shop started supplying The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop with fudge and toffee 25 years ago.

Working with The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop

"It's great working with The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop, it has a big footfall of customers - especially in the summer - when we are supplying them with fortnightly orders," said Neil Boustead, owner of The Toffee Shop. On high-quality food producers working together in Cumbria, Neil says his immediate thoughts go to the trio of his business, The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop and Cartmel Sticky Toffee Pudding. "I think of these three businesses as really iconic brands and it's really important that Cumbrians and visitors to the area recognise that high-quality producers are working together in some way to promote the region and what it offers."

Visit The Toffee Shop website - www.thetoffeeshop.co.uk

Products Sold:

Slab of Penrith Butter Fudge - £1.80
Box of Penrith Butter Fudge - £3.95
Box of Penrith Mixed Toffee - £3.95

The Ultimate Food Company - Ultimate Plum Puddings

The Kendal-based Ultimate Food Company has been making memorable puddings for 23 years - including desserts made of sponge as well as an award-winning Ultimate Plum Pudding! Their sticky toffee and chocolate & ginger puddings were featured in the Sunday Times Christmas Present List as one of the best gifts for under £10. They supply plum puddings to The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop.

Working with The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop

"Bernice Humphries, a director of The Ultimate Food Company, said: "We've been supplying plum puddings to The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop for about ten years. We get increased turnover and it's nice to work with other local Cumbrian suppliers and businesses. Like Grasmere Gingerbread, ours is a traditional product."

Visit the Ultimate Food website - www.ultimatefood.co.uk

Products Sold:

Ultimate Plum Pudding - On sale in the shop from September - various sizes available.

Wild & Fruitful

Using fruits and berries hand-picked from private gardens, orchards and the fields and hedgerows of pastoral Cumbria, Wild & Fruitful is a renowned producer of high-quality jams, chutneys, marmalades and jellies. Former landscape architect Jane Maggs established the business more than ten years ago, dedicated to creating taste sensations from local natural flavours. The business has featured extensively in newspapers, magazines and on radio and television. Her products are still produced exclusively in the kitchen of her Cumbrian home. Wild & Fruitful produce an exclusive range of preserves for The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop including ginger curd, rhubarb and ginger jam and strawberry and ginger jam.

Working with The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop

"It's brilliant supplying The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop as it's a real showcase for our produce," said Jane. "We've been committed to reducing food miles long before it became fashionable which is why we source all our ingredients from a network of people in Cumbria. Having our produce in the shop in Grasmere enables us to reach a wider audience without having to transport it huge distances." Jane praised The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop for encouraging high-quality Cumbrian producers to work together. "I love the fact that our curds and jams are sold alongside other really innovative and high-quality products in Joanne's amazing shop."

Visit the Wild & Fruitful website - www.wildandfruitful.co.uk

Products Sold:

Sarah's Home Made Ginger Curd
Sarah's Home Made Rhubarb & Ginger Conserve
Sarah's Home Made Strawberry and Ginger Conserve
Sarah's Home Made Cumbrian Damson, Ginger and Gunpowder Tea Conserve
Sarah's Home Made Seville Orange & Ginger Marmalade
Sarah's Home Made Seville Orange & Whisky Marmalade
Sarah's Home Made Cumbrian Apple & Ginger Chutney

All of the above retail at £2.75
Gift boxes available also and some products are included in the hampers/gift boxes

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