Wiltshire Farm Foods Journal

Customer Mary Legg-Willis had a taste of life at the Wiltshire Farm Foods headquarters after winning our nationwide recipe competition.

Mary had impressed the expert panel of judges with her recipe for scrumptious chicken casserole.

And her prize included a hamper full of goodies, as well as the VIP treatment on a day-long visit to the kitchens in Trowbridge, Wilts.

After being greeted by marketing executive Sian Lewis, Mary was given a tour of the site where our meals are prepared.

First stop was to meet taste assessors Carrie Coveney and Sue Powell who, along with the rest of their team, taste more than 100 meals a day to ensure that each one meets our high standards.

Next was the product development centre where the chefs dream up the recipe ideas for the range of over 200 different meals Wiltshire Farm Foods offers customers nationwide.

And it was here Mary, 65, met Head Chef Phil Rimmer who had nothing but praise for her recipe.

He said: “I was particularly impressed with the way Mary flavoured her chicken casserole with anchovies and olives.

“It meant there was no need for salt and showed a very imaginative use of ingredients.”

And Phil should know – he and his team can spend up to seven months testing a recipe and perfecting it before it is ready for Wiltshire Farm Foods’ 200,000 customers!

Before leaving Phil’s department Mary had a chance to taste two new dishes being developed for the range; pork and leek sausages with colcannon mash and monkfish steak with pea and pancetta sauce, carrots and courgettes.

After enjoying a mouthwatering lunch of lamb shank and dauphinois potatoes from our new Select range, Mary was shown around the on-site laboratory by supervisor Anita Drago.

It is here exhaustive tests are carried out to ensure every meal leaving the site is tested for the quality and levels of every ingredient and constituent, including fat, protein, sodium, moisture, potassium, and more.

Before her big day drew to a close Mary met Ben Haynes, Wiltshire Farm Foods’ Director who once again congratulated her on her recipe.

“It was an amazing experience,” said Mary, who lives in Liss, near Petersfield, Hants.

“I’ve been a customer of Wiltshire Farm Foods since a friend recommended it to me two years ago.

“I’ve always wondered how the company managed to produce such a wide range of excellent meals every day.

“Now I know!”

She added: “It really is an incredible operation. I’ve loved cooking and many years ago I went to a domestic science college. But seeing the professionals at work was something I will never forget.

“What really struck me was how friendly everyone was – just like the drivers!”

Marketing executive Sian Lewis said: “Mary is a wonderful lady and we’re delighted she had such an enjoyable time.