Natural sweeteners star Clarks makes maple a staple
NC Food producer Bob Clark will be launching the UK's first red maple syrup
The robust, caramel-flavoured maple, rare even in its native Quebec because of the short season, debuts this week in Sainbury’s. It’s the latest in a range of natural sweeteners and lower sugar sauces the entrepreneur has pioneered since starting his company Clarks nine years ago. Now the products, including pure and blends of original maple and carob, agave and date syrups, sell to over 150 customers in markets spanning retail, food service, industrial and export.
Maple syrup in squeezy bottles was our breakthrough Bob Clark
Turnover grew 24 per cent last year reaching £8 million as Clark and his team of 35 in Newport, South Wales, added a third production line in the factory and secured their slot as Britain’s leading maple syrup supplier. Many topping ideas have grown from the first he had which was to exploit a gap in the market for an affordable version of the syrup, in the wake of rising prices “A poor harvest and a weak pound had contributed. My solution was a blend with Mediterranean carob that maintained maple’s rich flavour but lowered the cost,” the former food importer explains.
NC The products sell to over 150 customers in various markets
But it was the new format he introduced that transformed its commercial potential and won over that most precious of commodities: new customers who had never bought maple before. “All the syrup came in jars because of preservation problems with plastic,” he says. “I experimented in my kitchen and came up with a production technique that meant we could use plastic squeezy bottles with no impact on quality. That was our breakthrough.
NC Bob Clark's chocolate sauce
“We started packing by hand, with family and friends pitching in. For our first Pancake Day Asda took every drop of syrup we had. “We are still the only company in the world that is able to pack pure maple syrup in these sort of plastic bottles. The Canadians have tried from time to time but it never seems to happen. “However our family-friendly format combined with our affordability has built a market. Syrups have become a specialist subject in themselves with cooks describing them in discerning terms not unlike wine.”
NC The red maple syrup will be ready for drizzling on Pancake Day
Now the sugar debate, whether it centres on reducing amounts or alternatives, has certainly served to sharpen the relevance of Clarks’ lower-sugar ranges. It spurred the introduction of nine new products last year including ice cream sauces that have 50 per cent less of the refined white stuff. “We use chicory root instead which is high in fibre. Chicory is set to be a very important ingredient as the move away from refined sugar continues,” predicts Clark.
NC Clarks Carob fruit syrup
Now it’s spreads and jams that are getting his attention with plans to meet modern customers’ appetite for experimenting and variety with new flavours such as lime and pomegranate. And although chocolate spreads might have thought their time-honoured place on the shelves was unassailable, Clark is poised for a shake up there too with a new lower sugar one, containing 70 per cent less fat and no palm oil, that will be rolled out this year. The new production line, which will help deal with the restrictions such as allergen controls, one of the inevitable consequences of manufacturing in this category, has helped push up output to 75,000 bottles a day.
NC Bob Clark with a maple tree in Canada
The increased capacity available will also allow Clark to explore another potential area, root vegetables, especially sweet potatoes. “That could involve farmers closer to home which would help with our importing costs which risen,” he says. “Exporting more will also offset these we hope, there are definitely opportunities in India and the Middle East where dietary concerns are growing.” Overall Clark and his private backer, the appropriately named Byron Light, have invested £1 million, using asset finance packages from Lloyds Bank to create a state of-the-art production and packing unit.
All you need for perfect pancakes Fri, February 20, 2009 Play slideshow 1 of 15 Crepe pan, £15.65. Flip pancake with ease. Lakeland (01539 488 100)
NC The new production line has helped push up output to 75,000 bottles a day