McWhinney’s Flamin’ Hot sausages are heating up sales at Kellaway’s
Located in the village of Threemilestone on the outskirts of Truro, Kellaway’s is a family-owned fish and chip shop known for its high quality offerings. While fish is the star of the menu, owner Lauren Kellaway has recently introduced McWhinney’s Flamin’ Hot – a pork sausage with a chilli flavour – to keep up with evolving tastes and attract a wider customer base.
“We just wanted something a little bit different,” says Lauren. “Flamin’ Hot adds a bit of excitement — it’s something a bit different than your regular sausage. We’ve been serving McWhinney’s Premium sausages for about eight or nine years now, and they’ve always been really popular. They’re our second biggest seller after fish, so we knew the quality of the Flamin’ Hot would be excellent too.”
The decision followed a visit to the Expo West Show at the Royal Cornwall Showground, where the team sampled the product. “We were given a box to take back and try at the shop so we cut them a little smaller and did some plain and some battered, and got our customers to tell us what they thought.”
The feedback was overwhelmingly positive with customers reporting that they are not overly spicy, they just have a nice kick to them. “We had a lot of people saying get them on the menu!” adds Lauren.
Kellaway’s prides itself on using premium products, and McWhinney’s sausages fit perfectly with this ethos. Lauren explains: “With our fish, we never compromise on quality, so why would we do that with our sausages McWhinney’s products have a 70% pork content, unlike some alternatives that might be as low as 30%. Knowing what’s in the product is essential for us and our customers. And it means we get a good margin on them because they are a premium product.”
Kellaway’s occasionally includes the Flamin’ Hot sausages in its lunchtime specials, serving them with chips for £5. This not only appeals to customers seeking value but also helps the shop stay competitive in a busy market. “We have a pastie shop next door and they are about a fiver. While we can’t do fish and chips for a fiver, we can do this, so it keeps us on a parr with them.”
Introducing a spicy sausage was part of a broader strategy to cater to diverse tastes. “Fish and chips is traditionally loved across generations, but to keep the business running, we’ve realised we have to expand the menu. Flamin’ Hot is an alternative so if people are having the family around, we can give them all something. It’s about appealing to all ages and generations now.”
McWhinney’s 028 9127 1811 www.mcwhinneys.com
