Quick Steps to a successful SALSA!

For over ten years now, The Handmade Meringue Company has been producing a range of delicious meringues.  All their meringues are hand-piped using natural, quality ingredients including the renowned ‘Corrie Mains’ free range eggs .  Currently, the company’s turnover is around £120k which equates to hundreds of thousands of meringues.  The range includes their signature chocolate drizzled pavlovas, nests and mini nests, shells and nests of various sizes for food service and flavoured giant soft centred meringues.

The company is based in Glasgow and with its small family team, has grown from simple beginnings in a domestic kitchen, to operating from a dedicated commercial kitchen. 

Looking to widen their market, Jacqueline McCormick , Sales Manager, encouraged the company to go forward and gain SALSA approval in 2011.  Jacqueline says, ‘We joined SALSA in 2011 and sought the advice of a SALSA mentor – Margaret Andrew. Margaret was very encouraging, providing excellent advice that helped us to gain certification with SALSA.’  The company have successfully maintained their approval since then, allowing them to broaden their customer base to include leading retailers Waitrose and Dobbies Food Hall as well as major food service companies and local delis. 

Since joining, they have gone from strength to strength using a range of resources offered by the SALSA scheme.  Jacqueline explains, ‘The membership resources offered by SALSA have enabled us to move to the next level, as planned, in terms of the growth of our business. We approach new customers with confidence in our systems, and in the knowledge that SALSA is widely recognised throughout the UK.  This has undoubtedly helped us to secure new and valuable contracts.’

Looking for guidance on the new labelling regulations, The Handmade Meringue Company turned to SALSA once again.  Relevant staff attended a one-day FICR workshop held in Edinburgh in February of this year.  ‘The workshop provided clear, concise guidance on the new regulations which has ensured that our new labels fully comply with the regulations – and our new packaging is already available in stores!’ comments a delighted Jacqueline.  She was also pleased that the FICR workshops were able to offer a regional venue, saving both staff time and travel expenses.

Jacqueline goes on to add, ‘The SALSA audit process has enabled us to continuously refine and improve our procedures resulting in better trained staff.  We know that with SALSA we have access to advice and assistance whenever required.  We would never have got on the supply dance floor so smoothly without SALSA!’

For more information about The Handmade Meringue Company please visit the SALSA Directory or e-mail them on: sales@handmademeringue.co.uk