Entrepreneur launches ‘world’s first’ peat-smoked sauces

Peat’d claims to be the world’s only range of peat-smoked tomato sauces.

“Cold-smoked from dawn ‘til dusk in a traditional Glaswegian smokehouse, an intense flavour is unearthed, that quickly transforms a variety of dishes making them taste richer, deeper and more complex, naturally peat smoking imparts is the richest, smokiest aromas that mother nature provides,” the firm said.

“We use its off cuts from Isle of Islay to create the hack of all cooking hacks as by just twisting off the lid and pouring this jar into any dish, it add depth with little to no effort required.

“Some may say, it's ‘vine dining.”

The range includes Original, Garlic, Chilli and Truffle.

Founded by serial drinks entrepreneur Hannah Brown, the inspiration came from her many years working in the whisky industry. She said could not understand why it was only the whisky companies using peat, when it created such a unique taste so decided to quit her job to launch peat-smoked Bloody Mary mixer brand Tongue In Peat in a bid to make bartenders lives easier when making up the flavoursome cocktail.

Despite winning three Great Taste awards for the mixer as well as it being named “the UK’s best Bloody Mary mixer” by the media, revered by the bartending community and exporting to USA and UAE, sales were extremely small as it was a niche product in a niche market.

However, Ms Brown realised more people were cooking with the juice as opposed to drinking it, therefore decided to flip the entire business "to use the DNA of the award-winning juice to create the base for a range of tomato sauces".

In just 10 months, a range of four sauces have been developed under the new brand name Peat'd. “We are so delighted we made the switch! We all have a strong emotional tie to Tongue In Peat, and we would never come up with Peat'd had it never existed. However, after years of trying to convince bars to make space for a smoky Bloody Mary on their menus, this move into food feels a much more viable, healthier and exciting. The initial reaction to the taste and design of Peat'd has exceeded even our wildest expectations” Ms Brown said.

Peat’d said: “The sauces are extremely versatile and can be added to a wide variety of dishes, not just pasta. Recipes have been developed by a range of chefs and influencers which showcase them being used across ratatouille orzo, gazpacho, lasagne, truffle tomato soup and even a savoury watermelon and tomato sorbet

“With the majority of all other tomato based sauces hailing from Italy and showcasing traditional Italian cues through both packaging and flavours used, Peat'd sits at a juxtaposition to this category as its not Italian.

“Instead, its marking its territory as a challenger brand with its bright, colourful, shelf popping contemporary packaging and its used of Scottish peat smoke infusions. Peat'd uses 0.0006g of peat in every one of its 305g jars, with much of the peat used coming from the distiller’s off cuts that are left behind however the team wanted to ensure they gave back (a lot) more than they take from the land.”

The Peat’d team has spearheaded the formation of an industry wide initiative which has brought together a group of small to medium sized distilleries to form a cooperative where a percentage of total sales will be donated to help fund peatland regeneration with a particular focus on small crofters, which will launch in early 2025.

Find a full range of recipes, e-shop, gift boxes and details behind how it’s made here.

Scottish company with nearly 200 year history sold to European giant

A historic Scottish company has been sold to a European giant with the stake costing more than £60 million.

The move comes after the Polish multinational earlier purchased a 30 per cent share in the Scottish business, which employs about 5,000 people providing newspaper distribution.

InPost Group, described as “Europe’s leading e-commerce logistics enabler”, has acquired the remaining 70 per cent stake in Menzies Distribution Limited in an all-cash transaction valued at £60.4m. The transaction concerns Express and Newstrade segments.

UK inflation falls further than expected

Inflation dropped below the Bank of England target rate last month for the first time since April 2021, according to new figures.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation fell to 1.7% in September, from 2.2% in August.

It was lower than expected, with analysts having predicted a reading of 1.9% for the month. The September figure is used by the Government to decide a number of tax and spending changes for next year, and means UK state benefits will rise by 1.7% next year.