The success of The Handmade Scotch Egg Company has surprised even its founders, Neil and Penny Chambers. Selling mainly through Farmer's Markets and mail order, the company sells around 7,000 scotch eggs a week. As Neil and Penny would happily point out, their creations are not simply Scotch eggs but lovingly hand-made meals using free-range eggs and meat from rare breed, free-to-roam British pork.

Neil and Penny launched their Scotch Eggs at the Teme Valley Farmers' market in June 2003 with five flavours, which included the traditional Classic Mac; Smokie Joe, which consists of saddleback pork and smoky bacon; Black Watch, made from black pudding, and Vegetabularian, with chickpeas, cheese and onion.  They now have forty varieties with the range being continually extended.  Each egg measures a full 3” across.

Accolades have included winning the Best New Producer 2005 category in the Flavours of Herefordshire awards, a number of Great Taste Awards, a Diamond Award from HEFF and a selection of stand/stall prizes at events and shows around the country. 

Aside from Scotch Egg making, Neil is a recognised painter with over 150 commissions to his name.  Over the past fifteen years Penny has catered for private dinner parties and weddings as well as giving cookery demonstrations.  She supplies local shops and cafes with quiches and various cakes and pastries. 

• Why do you do what you do?
  We love quality food and in truth we thrive on a challenge.


• What achievement are you most proud of?
  Designing and building our own production kitchen, which includes a purple floor.  As each Scotch Egg is handmade it was imperative to have a space that met all our needs.  Creating this space meant there was no going back and that we meant business.


• What is your most memorable moment?
  Selling out at Ludlow food festival in September 2003. We thought 300 eggs would last the weekend in fact they sold out in two hours.


• If you were Prime Minister, what one thing would you do to encourage more people to eat British food?
  Raise taxes on imported food – perhaps with the exception of wine.


• What is your favourite food and why?
  Scotch Eggs, unsurprisingly, but Rock Cakes are not far behind. We are great fans of traditional British food that everyone can make and share.


• What are your predictions for the future of British food?
  We'll see more and more small specialist businesses embracing local produce and services, as exemplified by Farmers' Markets all over the country.  At Farmers' Markets is where it all began for us.


• If you were an advertising executive what slogan would you use to promote British food?
  FAB= Fabulous And British


• Beat the Recession tip?
  Re-learn basic cooking skills, remember leftovers are the inspirational ingredients for the next meal, and shelf life stickers are guides not targets.


• What's on the menu this evening?
  Scotch egg burgers, fresh crusty bread and a crisp salad


• How can people get hold of your produce?
  Visit our web site handmadescotcheggs.co.uk for a list of stockists, to order for home delivery and to view our diary informing you where we'll be next.  Or simply call in when passing.  Telephone: 01885 490520 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it