Shildon company Balefire Ltd, creators of hot sauces and condiments, has filled it’s 100,000th bottle.
Having only just celebrated their 4th year, this means that the family-run business has made a whopping 16,000 litres of hot sauce, hand crafted by the Balefire team and cementing their place as one of the fastest growing hot sauce creators in the UK.
Founded by food-loving brothers with a history in chefing and brewing, Pete and Jim Batten started the business with 20 years of experience in beer and food production – with Pete’s wife Laura, qualified in nutrition and marketing, completing the trio.
“Years of passion, knowledge and artistry go into every bottle. It’s an honour and a dream to make condiments for a living. When we kicked this adventure off four years ago from a tiny kitchen, we never thought we’d be making over 1000 bottles every week from our fabulous unit in our hometown of Shildon.” said Pete.
“Our mission has always been about flavour, accessibility for all and looking after our environment. We want to create sauces that elevate cooking and spark conversation whilst keeping sustainability at the heart of what we do.”
Combining fermented chillies, craft beer and sustainable practices, the Shildon producer is redefining what it means to make bold, beautiful hot sauces and condiments.
Balefire crafts each condiment by hand, using chillies they ferment on site and their own small-batch craft beer as a base. The team have created a range that includes mild spice levels to tongue-tinglingly hot with flavours to suit every palate alongside a growing selection of vinegars, spice rubs and salts.
Each bottle is finished with a distinctive wax-dipped top, giving Balefire’s sauces a unique look that’s a perfect treat for your home or to add to a hamper this Christmas.
As no bottle leaves Balefire HQ unfinished, 100,000 bottles of sauce have been created, labelled and waxed by the team right here in Shildon.
Beyond their striking design, Balefire is committed to eco-friendly packaging and locally sourced, fresh ingredients as keeping crafting as close to home as possible is key to their sustainability ethos.
From drizzling in your sandwich to adding to your curry, Balefire’s range invites food lovers to explore new layers of flavour and heat. Whether you’re a chilli connoisseur or a home cook looking to spice up your repertoire, there’s a Balefire sauce waiting for you.
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
