Our British suppliers

Mellow Yellow

The winners of the Waitrose Small Producers Supreme Champion Award 2006.

Duncan Farrington has a passion and reverence for Mellow Yellow, his virgin cold-pressed rapeseed oil, and his pride is justified. It is grown, pressed and bottled entirely on the family's Northamptonshire farm.

He likens the golden oil to top quality olive oil, but points out that it contains under half as much saturated fat, the lowest of any oil. It also contains omega 3, 6 and 9 oils which may help with cholesterol reduction, and it has a high smoke point, making it ideal for all kinds of cooking.

Since launching in the summer of 2005, Mellow Yellow has been available in selected Waitrose stores under the Locally Produced Scheme in Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire, which is aimed at bringing customers closer to food from their local community. Duncan also belongs to the LEAF marque scheme (Linking Environment and Farming) and goes into local branches to demonstrate his product.

'We can guarantee a very good product with provenance, freshness and traceability,' says Duncan, a fourth generation farmer who manages Bottom Farm at Hargrave near Wellingborough with his father, Robert. Mother, Angela, takes care of the bottling while Duncan's wife Eli is in charge of the design and packaging. Although the business is small scale at the moment, the future looks golden.

For more information, visit www.farrington-oils.co.uk

Bacheldre Watermill - Flour

The winners of the Waitrose Small Producers Supreme Champion Award 2005.

When honeymooners Anne and Matt Scott first set eyes on Bacheldre Watermill in the spring of 2002 it was love at first sight. It was the start of a grand passion that has won them a host of awards for taste and business innovation as flour millers, including supreme champion in the Waitrose Small Producers Awards 2005.

With no previous experience but bags of enthusiasm, they set about learning the ropes from an eighth generation miller and gave samples to local bakers for feedback on developing the perfect product. Today, they produce 10 types of flour and are a national producer for Waitrose, with products available in selected Waitrose stores throughout the country. Their acclaimed spelt flour is available nationally, ensuring our customers have access to the some of the best British flour. In addition, other varieties produced at Bacheldre Watermill are available in over 30 selected branches.

'We were committed to producing the very best flour from the start,' says Matt. 'We use only top quality wheat, some of it grown in neighbouring fields. It is ground slowly and gently, retaining all the natural goodness of the wheatgerm and leaving all the natural flavours intact.'

There's been a mill at Bacheldre, near Montgomery, since 1575. The current mill, rebuilt in 1747, has been grinding ever since and is one of only two flour-producing water mills in Wales.

Bacheldre Flour has been 'discovered' by celebrity chefs and the Scotts are regular fixtures at food shows around the country. They still find time to make educational trips to local schools and show parties of visitors around the ancient mill. It's a daily grind that they are more than happy to perform.

For more information, visit www.bacheldremill.co.uk