4/8/2005 - Putting time into peppers

ONE business may be enough to manage but for Shelley and Stephen Gorys the chance to grab another was not to be missed.

The couple discovered one of Spain’s tastiest tapas, pimientos de Padron, while on holiday.

Nine years later, sales of their own British Upton House peppers are proving hot. The winning combination of spicy bites with a commitment to excellent customer service has meant growing demand.

Now, not only are they proving popular at markets and farm shops, but restaurants and retailers are showing an interest. Mrs Gorys spoke to Rebecca Chard about their new venture.

Aldershot Mail 19th July 2005

Picture: Stephen and Shelley Gorys with Thomas and Emily

What’s your background?

“We have run our own business since we started our IT recruitment and telecom company in 1986. “We were in Lanzarote when friends got us to try the pimientos. It was for a joke because some of them are hotter than others. We continued to enjoy them on holiday and then four years ago we found some seeds and decided to have a go at producing them.”

Did you have business in mind?

“No, it was for our own consumption. Peppers are usually grown in greenhouses but these grow outside. The first year they grew well and I wondered if there would be a market, so we started to produce our own variety, the English Pimientos de Padron. “We produced a lot and in 2003 we tested them on our friends. We also had a tasting session at Newlyns Farm Shop in Hook and they sold out.”

Did you expect them to be so popular?

“We had an inkling. We did a huge amount of market research. We looked into peppers in this country and no-one grows these peppers in the UK commercially.”

Do you employ anyone?

“No, it is a family business. The children help out too. We all do the picking. The prime season runs from July until the end of October.”

You are both running two businesses. What’s your typical working day?

“At the moment we are getting up between 4.30am and 5am for picking. It’s lovely in the summer. We are busy though — we have to divide the day between taking care of the peppers and contacting suppliers. Then there is the marketing and recruitment side of the business, which you can do at the end of the day.”

How do you find customers?

“I go into restaurants and delicatessens and ask them if they want to sell my peppers. We also sell them at the markets in Odiham and Hartley Wintney during July and August.”

Has it been hard?

“It’s hard, physical work but great for the figure. Running your own business is hard graft. You can’t avoid hard work.”

Have you got plans to expand this business?

“It’s an exciting time for us. Everybody is talking about the importance of healthy eating. These are very healthy and the children and their friends love them.”

What is the secret to business success?

“You have to believe in your product. If you believe in that you can deliver a quality of service. Customers are your bread and butter. You must deliver what they want and communicate with them.

“We are responsive to our customers needs and will always help out.

What advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?

“Be sure you know what you are doing. You can’t just say you want to start up a business. You have got to do your market research. When we first started up the IT recruitment we already had the skills set from previous work experience.

“Also, you have to be prepared to put the hours in.”

Call Upton House Peppers on 01256 861431 or visit www.ukpeppers.co.uk.