![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.theartofpuddings.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/BOTTLE_LINEUP_3.jpg\" "\\"BOTTLE_LINEUP_3\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nI\u2019d like to give you a brief up-date since I launched Tart It Up! my new damson sauce at the end of March 2012.\u00a0 My business venture The Art of Puddings has taken an unexpected turn since the end of March, turning me overnight into food producer. \u00a0This was certainly not in the grand schema but came out of my passion for damsons awakened by a chance encounter via the web. \u00a0What a journey it’s been so far and still is….. Up until now I’ve had amazing support from a whole variety of people working in and around food – \u00a0consumer, producers,market stall holders, environmental health officers, buyer and sellers of food products – not to mention loyal friends and family members. \u00a0I’ve been humbled by the level of support \u00a0that so many of you have given me over these past weeks. \u00a0 They all said the same thing – just go ahead and do it, you’ve got nothing to loose. \u00a0So here I am doing it and having a lot of fun at the same time….(well most of the time!).<\/p>\n We sold 40 + bottles at Duckpond Market in Ruislip back in March and got a lot of very enthusiastic feedback from customers sampling at our stall which was brilliant.\u00a0 Friends and supporters have also been buying bottles of sauce and getting the word out. My friend Chris<\/a> used Tart it Up! as a main ingredient in his home-made \u201cSuper Damson Relish\u201d hot dog topping which he entered for a ‘topping’ contest organised by @BigAppleHotDogs, one of London\u2019s foremost hand-crafted hot dog producers.<\/p>\n I’ve plunged straight into the deep end with Tart It Up! \u00a0Armed with wooden spills and bottles of my sauce I offered samples to a number of differnet butchers and delis around town (Central London) \u00a0\u2013 resulting in a win \u00a0with several wanting \u00a0to stock my damson sauce.\u00a0 I\u2019ve also started taking pre-orders while I build up more stock \u00a0which is also very encouraging.\u00a0 All the shops I\u2019ve been into to date like the name,\u00a0 appreciate the look and feel of the bottle and most importantly they love the rich, tangy taste of Tart It Up!\u00a0 There\u2019s no doubt in my mind that the versatility of this sauce has to be one of it\u2019s main selling points.<\/p>\n I won’t pretend that producing, marketing and selling my sauce hasn\u2019t been a steep learning curve. \u00a0I\u2019ve had to get to grips with the ins and outs of labelling requirements, weights and measures, food safety and shelf life testing.\u00a0 Not to mention bottle sourcing, pricing gun research, tamper proof seals and most importantly profit margins.\u00a0 I\u2019ve also learned that a certain flexibility with pricing at this stage is helpful especially with a new product which is yet to prove itself in the big bad retail market.<\/p>\n Right now I\u2019m making new stock and waiting for the 10th<\/sup> May when I’m due get my shelf life test result back from the food laboratory.\u00a0 Then I will be able to put a good length best before date on my bottles and start selling in earnest.<\/p>\n If you know a stockist in your area (Greater London) who might like to stock Tart It Up! then please do get in touch with me at info@theartofpuddings.com<\/a> or ask them to contact me direct if they are interested.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/a>