Calder’s Kitchen

The Challenge

Calder’s Kitchen began in 2015 when Darlington-based founder Andrew Calder and his family uncovered his Grandad Charlie’s original piccalilli recipe. What started as a small family venture quickly turned into a popular local brand, with the business earning multiple awards for its handcrafted range of condiments and chutneys.

For years, the company built its reputation at farmers’ markets, food festivals and local events. However, poor weather in 2024 made outdoor trading difficult and highlighted the need to strengthen the business’s online presence. While Calder’s Kitchen had developed a loyal following through word of mouth, the family wanted to reach more customers digitally – but lacked the skills and confidence to make the most of online marketing tools.

The Solution

Andrew contacted the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) for guidance and was referred to Enterprise Made Simple (EMS), which delivers Adult Skills support through funding from TVCA and in partnership with the Education Training Collective (ETC).

The fully funded eight-day Digital Edge course gave Andrew the opportunity to develop key digital marketing skills, including social media strategy, email marketing, and online storytelling. The practical sessions were designed to help business owners like Calder’s Kitchen grow their digital footprint and engage directly with customers.

Through the course, Andrew gained confidence in using digital platforms to tell the Calder’s Kitchen story, promote its products online, and reach new audiences across the North East and beyond.

The Results

Armed with new knowledge and tools, Calder’s Kitchen introduced targeted Facebook advertising, improved its email marketing, and strengthened its social media activity. Within just a few months, the family saw a sharp rise in online orders and subscriptions to their newsletter.

These results have inspired plans to make e-commerce a major part of the company’s future growth – aiming for at least half of sales to come from online channels. With a stronger digital presence, Calder’s Kitchen now has more control over its marketing and a clearer path to sustainable growth, while continuing to supply independent retailers, farm shops, and butchers across the region.

Andrew said: “I think it’s probably the best thing I’ve done.

“What I learned on the course, I was able to start implementing straight away – they had experts who came in from the industry and they told us all about the things we needed to do, from telling your story through different mediums, from email marketing, through Facebook and social media, and understanding who your customer is.

“I think from that point on everything else just kind of fell into place.”

To find out more about the support available for businesses across Tees Valley, click here.