Member Article

Seeds of success for Borderfields

With its 10th anniversary approaching, Northumberland-based cold pressed rapeseed oil brand, Borderfields, and parent company; Hammond Food Oils are celebrating a month of record-breaking sales.

Hammond Food Oils achieved record sales of £378K for December 2014, compared to £136K the previous year. December also saw sales figures for Borderfields up 178 per cent compared to the previous year, reflecting a consumer shift to what’s described as ‘the healthier alternative to olive oil’.

The latest oil category report from The Grocer has revealed that the rapeseed oil industry is now worth £14.3M and 2014 saw a 43 per cent increase in consumer spend on rapeseed oil compared to the previous year. The report described the oil as ‘becoming increasingly mainstream and a real threat to olive oil’s positioning’.

Market-leading brand Borderfields was established in 2005 by a group on like-minded farmers in Northumberland and Berwickshire who decided to introduce rapeseed oil to the food market for the first time. Now it’s championed by some of the country’s top chefs including the North East’s Kenny Atkinson.

Almost ten years later, British cold pressed rapeseed oil has reached the masses. It has become a kitchen essential for many households up and down the country and the Borderfields variety of oil seed rape continues to be grown locally on farmland at Belford on the Northumbrian coast and at Coldstream, just north of the Borders.

The oil is also stocked in 2400 outlets nationwide – a number which is continually growing. Store numbers are up by 40 per cent compared to the previous year. Most recently Booths has joined the list of retailers, which includes Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Morrisons, Aldi and Asda.

This year also saw Borderfields introduce a new range of infusion oils in Tesco, Aldi and Asda stores. The UK’s first cold pressed rapeseed stir-fry oil, created by Borderfields, was also unveiled by Asda.

Ben Guy, managing director at Borderfields, said: “2014 was a big year for us; we doubled production and are feeling proud that cold pressed rapeseed oil has moved away from being a niche oil, to becoming a mainstream, everyday choice.

“It’s not just a huge success for Borderfields, but the entire rapeseed industry and the British farmers that are meeting the increased demand. With half the saturated fat of olive oil, its Britishness, great taste and versatility, Borderfields has a wide appeal.

“Looking ahead we anticipate a similar growth curve for 2015. This is something we are preparing for and we have a few new surprises up our sleeve too.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Finlay Magowan .