As Goldensheaf celebrates its 80th anniversary, Benny t’s talks about the shared values that have kept its batter an integral part of the business for 20 years
Benny t’s opened its doors in 2004, transforming a car sales room in Falkirk, Stirlingshire, into a busy fish and chip takeaway and 100-seater restaurant.
Run by husband and wife team Mark and Dominique Mulholland, Mark reflects on the history: “My late father-in-law, Benny Tomolillo, tried for seven years to buy the site but the owner wasn’t interested in selling. When he finally did, I think he liked the fact that it was going to be a family-run business, not just another big company coming in.”
Last year marked a special year for the eatery as it celebrated 20 years. Mark and Dominique marked the milestone with anniversary window vinyls and a 20% discount on main meals. It was a moment of reflection and gratitude for Mark who says: “It’s great to see generations of families coming here. There are family tables with three generations sitting at them because they’ve been coming that long. My wife remembers cradling a baby who is about 18 now and twice the height of us, and he’s still coming in with family and his grandparents.
“We’ve built up relationships with our customers, because we are here every day, in the kitchen frying or at the counter serving. We’re hands-on, and I think that has helped us over the 20 years to give the service and high quality that we’ve always wanted to give our customers.”
For Mark, sourcing high quality ingredients has been central to Benny t’s philosophy, and many of the suppliers used today are the same ones they opened their doors with, including Goldensheaf. Mark comments: “My late father-in-law used Goldensheaf batter in his shops before this one, so it’s always been part of how we do things.
“We’ve never had any issues with it. It gives us the finish we want – a light, crispy batter with great colouring and texture. There are cheaper products out there, but Goldensheaf gives us peace of mind, knowing that that product is going to do today what it did yesterday and the day before.”
The introduction of a gluten free range has further strengthened their confidence in Goldensheaf.
“We have a two-pan wall range now dedicated to gluten free, and we use Goldensheaf’s gluten free batter there,” explains Mark. “It’s so good that even customers who aren’t coeliac or who don’t have a gluten intolerance buy it – it’s so light and crispy.”
Mark also credits Goldensheaf’s customer service and heritage as key reasons for their long-standing partnership. He adds: “They’re always checking in, making sure we’re happy with the product, and keeping us informed about deals or new developments. Like us, they’ve been around a long time and understand the importance of quality and consistency.
“Goldensheaf just works for us, whether it’s in the takeaway or the restaurant. It’s a big part of what we do and the product we’re proud to serve.”
Kerry Foodservice 0800 138 1938 eu.kerryfoodservice.com
