Monstir Sauce doesn’t scare the royals

North Wales couple celebrate their ‘Monstir’ sauces with royal thanks and a finalist place in the Wales True Taste Awards

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A North Wales couple who turned a passion for creating home-made vegetable sauces into a successful business are celebrating after gaining two royal fans and being named a finalist in this year’s Wales True Taste Awards.

Tim and Suzanne Silcock retired as foster carers with the intention of relaxing. But a hobby growing vegetables and chillies at their home in Beaumaris, Anglesey, combined with a passion for cooking soon made sure life really does begin at 50 - they set up Monstir Sauce.

After sending a special Jubilee Mango and Sweet Chilli Sauce to the Queen at Buckingham Palace and Prince Charles at Clarence House, London, both royal households responded congratulating the couple on their enterprise with the Queen’s Palace sending a jar to the royal kitchens.

With support from the Welsh Government’s Trade Development Programme, delivered by business development company Menter a Busnes, Tim and Suzanne have been developing a range of vegetable based cooking sauces, salsa dips and condiments from their home.

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With support from the Welsh Government’s Trade Development Programme, delivered by business development company Menter a Busnes, Tim and Suzanne have been developing a range of vegetable based cooking sauces, salsa dips and condiments from their home.
Suzanne grows vegetables and chillies, while Tim is the cook who transforms them into mouth-watering sauces. They currently have nine different products, including the Jubilee sauce.
It all started when Suzanne and Tim gave up foster caring and kept being asked by family and friends for sauces that Suzanne used to make from the vegetables Tim grew at his allotment. Realising they were on to a winner, the couple set up the business working from their home in Beaumaris.
The couple have received on-going support from the Welsh Government’s Trade Development Programme through Menter a Busnes to help agri-food businesses develop new products and services – from development through to launch.
Monstir Sauces has also just launched a new website – www.monstirsauce.org.uk - where they’re profiling and selling their products.
The couple will find out in October whether they’ve received gold, silver or bronze within the speciality foods section of the True Taste Awards.

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We couldn’t believe it when we received a letter from the Queen’s office thanking us for the sauce. It said they had sent the sauce to the royal kitchen. We also received a card from the Queen thanking us.

Prince Charles’ Private Secretary also wrote to us and congratulated us on the sauce and the business. Then we learned we’d been named as a finalist in the True Taste Awards – it’s amazing.

Suzanne Silcock of Monstir Sauce

Tim and Suzanne are a great example and inspiration for anyone thinking about starting their own business. They already had a passion which they’ve transferred into a commercial enterprise and have developed a range of new products.

To gain royal exposure and then be named a finalist in this year’s True Taste Awards is a true endorsement of the business and the products and Menter a Busnes through the Cywain project is pleased to have helped them.

Nia Môn, Development Manager at Menter a Busnes