Heck Food’s £4m investment to create 60 jobs

The expansion of the Kirklington site will increase capacity by 25%, supporting the manufacturer’s increased production demands as it opens an international mail order business and launches its new Heckfurter – the company’s own take on a healthier frankfurter – on to the German market.

Commenting on Heck’s work in the European market, co-founder Jamie Keeble said: “Despite all the doom and gloom about Brexit, we are proud to be a European family and friends business. ​

“We will be investing in more German machinery in our factory and can now get bangers to Berlin as fast as we can get sausages to Southampton. We are looking forward to taking our tasty range to kitchen tables across the Continent.”​

Increase its listings​

This year saw Heck increase its listings across a number of national retailers, as well as online through Ocado and Amazon Fresh.

“Our vegetarian launch has also been a complete hit and we continue to be much loved by the fitness and slimming community with our tasty chicken burger and sausage range,”​ Keeble continued.

Rishi Sunak, local Conservative MP for Richmond, praised Heck for its “uniquely innovative approach to food and running its business”. ​

“I have followed its progress closely in recent years and it is great news to see it expanding and taking on more employees,” ​added Sunak.

‘County of enterprise and success’​

“The Government is supporting businesses like this on a local and national scale. Heck’s expansion plans demonstrate how North Yorkshire is a county of enterprise and success.”​

The past year has been particularly busy for Heck Food, which was recognised as the 21^st​ fastest-growing company​​ in the UK on the Sunday Times​ Virgin Fast Track 100 List in December 2017.

In July, Heck’s Bedale factory hit the small screen, as MasterChef star Gregg Wallace visited the site​​​ in an episode of the BBC’s Inside the Factory​ television series.

Meanwhile, in August, the sausage maker starred in Lloyds Bank’s national print, radio and online advertising campaign​​.