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Martin and Suzie CowleyConfectioners making bacon jam
Country:
 Great Britain |
Content:
- The Culinary Inventors of Bacon Jam
- A Journey into the Culinary World
- The Dragons' Den Experience
- The Bacon Jam Phenomenon
- Expanding Their Business
- A Journey Towards a Deli
The Culinary Inventors of Bacon Jam
Martin and Suzy Cowley, eccentric confectioners from Tonypandy, Wales, have gained worldwide fame for their invention of bacon jam. At first glance, the combination of bacon and jam seems absurd; however, the couple claims that bacon jam has become their most popular product ever. With a great demand for this unusual treat from food enthusiasts around the world, Martin and Suzy, who are professionally involved in cooking excellent food in Rhondda, have dedicated themselves to meeting this demand.
A Journey into the Culinary World
Martin, a trained butcher, discovered his passion for making exquisite cured meats and spent his weekends participating in historical reenactments. This hobby helped him expand his customer base, as people were eager to sample his dried meats. Suzy, known as the "Fruit Lady," joined him on this culinary adventure, and together, they started hosting medieval banquets and meat-processing demonstrations. Eventually, Martin made the bold decision to leave his job as a chef in a pub and open his own business.
The Dragons' Den Experience
In 2008, Martin and Suzy appeared on the reality show "Dragons' Den" with the aim of expanding their business. However, they failed to secure any investors, as they were told that their business would not succeed. Undeterred, Martin managed to raise funds through crowdfunding and paid off all his debts. He believes that crowdfunding is an amazing tool that can help small enterprises. The couple financed several projects through Kickstarter, a crowdfunding platform, in their quest to promote their company, "Cowleys Fine Food." They offered their products and cooking classes in exchange for donations ranging from £3 to £600.
The Bacon Jam Phenomenon
Bacon jam, the couple's most popular creation, is made with grilled bacon, Tennessee whiskey, Canadian maple syrup, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper. Martin explained that they strive to create unique products that no one else offers. While it takes time to prepare bacon jam, as the bacon needs to be well grilled, the couple's small kitchen and oven recently suffered a catastrophic destruction. Despite this setback, they continue to produce a range of snacks for both meat lovers and vegetarians, offering a healthier alternative to popular but less nutritious snacks.
Expanding Their Business
Currently, Martin and Suzy are seeking to raise £4000 to expand their workspace by building an extension in their home to accommodate a new oven and dehydrators. The couple has been appearing on various shows to promote their bacon jam, and it has accounted for a third of their total earnings during one weekend alone. They have received four wholesale requests, but due to equipment limitations, they can only supply one customer. Nevertheless, they have plans to produce chorizo, a type of spicy pork sausage from Spain and Portugal, and brandy jam once their new oven is operational.
A Journey Towards a Deli
In addition to their culinary endeavors, Martin is also one of the directors of a new public store called "Deli of the Valley," set to open in Merthyr Tydfil County in the fall of 2015. The couple continues to experiment with new flavors, including chili crickets and whiskey worms, as they strive to provide unique and exciting culinary experiences for their customers.
