The entirely British product was developed with the view to create a “better class of pork scratching,” Matthew Fort, partner of the co-operative and Great British Menu judge told BakeryandSnacks at ife 2017, held in London in March.
The scratchings secured listings in a number of top British retailers, including Selfridges, Fortnum & Mason, Harvey Nicols, The Co-Op, Wholefoods and Ocado, among others.
The company also produces Mr Trotter’s Proper Potato Crisps, made from local potatoes and fried in extra virgin rapeseed oil with their skins on, and introduced Sausalamis – a combination of the “great British banger and Italian air-dried salami” – at ife.
All things British
Mr Trotter is based in Rugeley, Staffordshire in the British Midlands – “where all good pork scratchings are made,” claimed Fort – and is managed as a cooperative with five partners, including Rupert Ponsonby and Graham Jebb from RayGray Snacks (another pork scratchings producer).
“We believe in the quality of the food produced in this country and are especially proud of British pork, with its higher welfare standards and husbandry,” said Fort.
Almost 95% of other pork scratchings produced in the UK are made from the rind of Danish pigs.
Another differentiation of Mr Trotter’s Great British Pork Crackling is the triple cooking process, which means using the rind from other parts of the pig that are traditionally discarded as it’s usually too tough.
“This means less wastage,” said Fort.
Simple pleasures
There has been an “almost explosive growth” in snacks, and in particular, protein snacks, said Fort.
In fact, according to the company’s website, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) added meat snacks to its basket of goods in 2016 for the first time, mirroring the rising consumer hunger for protein on-the-go snacks.
While most people are looking to eat more healthily, “Mr Trotter’s pork scratchings is undoubtedly a source of immense pleasure,” claimed Fort, noting that the product’s popularity has spurred on a number of “imitators, which we embrace as they are all helping to develop the market.”
The cracking is available in three variants, including Original (seasoned with only yeast and sea salt), Jalapeno and English Mustard, but, to capture the more health-conscious market, the Great British Pork Crunch is hot flashed to create a snack with fewer calories.
The newly-released Sausalami range includes Original, Cracked Black Pepper and Jalapeno Chilli and will be available in Selfridges in June.