Member Spotlight: North Devon Hog Roast

You wouldn’t necessarily associate a hog roast business with a couple who’s working backgrounds are miles away in the world of banking, but that’s exactly the case with North Devon Hog Roast. The family run venture had to wade off the dreadful loom of COVID lockdowns, and has since gone from strength to strength and provided more than enough to keep the family busy together! This is their journey so far, in their own words:

What inspired you to start up your own catering business?

Andy and I have always shared a deep passion for both cooking and savouring good food. As a family-run venture, we embarked on establishing the North Devon Hog Roast Company with a vision to provide not only flavourful but also succulent and wholesome pork.

Our culinary journey began shortly before the first COVID lockdown, launched right after catering for the BIS Sheep Wedding Fair. The joy of sharing delicious meals and our love for events and festivals fueled our inspiration. Catering allows us to actively participate in creating memorable experiences for our clients and ourselves. Also, it is a real joy to work alongside such positive, happy individuals! We have found by feeding people they are always in a good mood!

We have come on quite a journey with us both having a financial background in the city. I, Sam was a investment banking researcher and Andy used to work supporting traders in the Fixed Income banking industry. We started by trying out a few farmers market and our journey led from there! We then re-located to rural North Devon, bought a farm and set up a holiday business – Lower Whitsleigh Farm – added quite a few additional animals to our existing flock and bought a hog roast machine!

If you could go back now and give one piece of advice to yourself when starting up, what would it be?

Before diving in, conduct thorough market research. Understand your target audience, local competition, and the demand for your services in your area and what you can offer that is unique. This knowledge will help tailor your offerings and marketing strategies effectively.

What do you find most rewarding about running your own business?

Customer feedback is incredibly important and rewarding. Knowing that your efforts have enhanced someone’s event or made it more memorable is a great source of motivation. Building relationships with clients, vendors and the community, witnessing your vision come to life, and contributing to the local community are also immensely gratifying.

Networking and building these relationships have really helped to contribute to overall success and growth of our family run business and we have made some lovely friends that will be forever in our lives.
We have become integral parts of our vibrant local community by collaborating with esteemed charities such as Children’s Hospice South West, North Devon Hospice, Over and Above, Devon Air Ambulance, Chemo Hero, Ask for Jake and CRY, amongst others and help cater at various fundraising events. Giving back to our cherished community is not just a commitment but a core belief and value that we hold dear.

Our contribution extends beyond charitable partnerships. We take pride in fostering local employment opportunities, ensuring a positive impact on our community’s livelihood. Additionally, our commitment to sourcing ingredients reflects our dedication to quality – whether its from our own farm for full traceability or from the finest local suppliers in the South West. We believe that by enriching the community we live in, we contribute to the collective well-being and prosperity of all.

What inspires you most in independent hospitality?

Again, we love our local community impact which is very important to us both. We take great pride in being active contributors to our local community we live in, by sourcing from local suppliers, participating in community environments and providing employment opportunities.

What’s one dish every customer must try when they come and see you?

It’s got to be our 10-hour slow-roasted hog with the most amazing crackling, trimmings, and locally baked baps!

What is the most important lesson that you’ve learnt whilst running your own business?

Maintain a strong work-life balance to prevent burnout and prioritise overall well-being. This balance is particularly vital, especially during peak seasons. We always try to remember to allocate time for our personal life, farm animals, family and self-care.

Also, it has to be to stay true to your values and principles and to remember customers satisfaction is priority. Every decision, every effort, and every interaction should reflect an exceptional experience for our customers.

What does success look like to you?

Success to us as a business means ultimately being happy, taking time for ourselves and family and friends, and enjoying the company of our fabulous animals – 4 donkeys, 2 horses, ex-battery hens, ex-guide dog Rufus, Labrador Daisy, Tamworth pigs & orphan sheep. We find success in continuing to excel and thrive in our chosen profession.

Success also entails giving back to the community, a value reflected in the prestigious awards we’ve achieved this year. These include Best Hog Roast Catering Business 2023 – South West England by the Southern Enterprise Awards, Best Hog Roast Company by Luxlife’s Global Wedding Awards, and Business Action Best Hospitality and Tourism Business and best small business 2023 by Devon Women in Business. These accolades mean the world to us and highlight our active interest in supporting charities, events and our community. Giving back is a cornerstone of our values.

What is the plan for the future?

In the coming years, we plan to expand our offerings, introducing more innovative menu options and explore sustainable practices. Long-term plans include growing all produce on our farm in North Devon.
We also plan to engage again with the wonderful local community we are lucky enough to call home through events and initiatives that showcase our passion for food and hospitality.

As we embark on this exciting journey, sustainability remains a core focus. We are actively exploring eco-friendly practices, from responsible sourcing to waste reduction, to contribute positively to the environment and have just had solar and air source installed to the farm.

What led to you joining NCASS and how have you found your membership?

We were encouraged to join by Steve Cullum, the mastermind behind the fabulous Elite Hog Roast machines we proudly use. Additionally, RHS, for who we cater various events for also recommended NCASS.
It ensures legal compliance, provides training and resources, and offers discounts on essential items, contributing to the growth and success of our business. We highly recommend it to anyone in the catering industry. The training and legal side has really helped to develop our skills and that of our staff helpers. It has really helped us with the wealth of resources, including guides, templates, and helped to navigate the challenges of the catering industry. Both of us used to work for Investment Banks so this was a very new area to work in!

To find out more about North Devon Hog Roast, click here. For more member interviews and relevant industry updates, click here.