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In less than a year from its start date, a home-based, South African inspired chilli condiments company in Wansford is looking forward to rapid expansion thanks to a £6,100 grant from the LEADER programme.

Kingfisher Chilli was set up in October last year by Annette and Tim Williams after their home-made spicy condiments went down a storm at a local fundraising Bazaar.

Tim has been creating his own condiments since he was in school with flavours influenced by his father and childhood in South Africa, but was only recently inspired to take them to market.

His chilli paste, jam, mayonnaise and peri-peri oil have proven so popular the couple have even converted their dining room into a commercial kitchen to help them grow the business. All spice levels are accommodated for within the range, from “chilli heads” to regular consumers of medium to hot spicy foods.

Currently, Kingfisher Chilli products are only sold at seasonal fayres, farm shops and other food festivals. Thanks to the LEADER grant, Annette and Tim now plan to take their signature paste to bigger audiences by automating large parts of their production line.

The grant will allow them to fill and sell thousands of jars at a time with the purchase of grinding, filling, capping and labelling machines.

A further £800,000 of grant funding is still available from The Rural Peterborough and Rutland LEADER programme which has already supported four projects based in Rural Peterborough. The programme aims to support local projects that develop the economies of the rural Peterborough and Rutland areas.

The programme is being run by economic development company, Opportunity Peterborough, which is encouraging businesses and community groups to apply for LEADER funding to progress ideas or projects that would help their business grow further, including:

• increasing farm productivity
• supporting micro and small businesses and farm diversification
• boost rural tourism
• provide rural services
• cultural and heritage activity
• increase forestry production

Annette, Director at Kingfisher Chilli said, “Without the LEADER grant we wouldn’t be able to expand this quickly. We know there’s a big market for Kingfisher Chilli products, but there’s only so much we can keep doing by hand so it’s a big relief to be having automated production.

“The grant has come at just the right time as there are lots of larger exhibitions we’d like to attend alongside showcasing our products at local markets and fayres.”

Chief executive of Opportunity Peterborough, Steve Bowyer, said, “Supporting grass-roots companies in rural areas is what the LEADER funding programme is all about. I’m delighted that Kingfisher Chilli have been awarded this grant and am certain that we will see the company continue to succeed thanks to Annette and Tim’s huge passion and enthusiasm for their products.

“We only have the funding available until March 2019 so I would urge any businesses or charities that need funding for projects in rural Peterborough, but particularly in Rutland, to talk to our team about how LEADER could help.”

For additional information about the LEADER funding programme and details of eligibility and how to apply, please click here.

To find out more about Kingfisher Chilli products visit: www.chilli-prododucts.co.uk