ANDREW and Debbie Keeble were in the news again this week after being awarded Tesco’s Local Supplier Award for outstanding sales and service.

The couple featured in Alex Polizzi's "The Fixer" television programme last week with their family's "Heck" brand of sausages.

Now they have won Tesco's award in recognition of their Harrogate Sausage Company, which is the fastest growing regional brand in sausages and burgers. Sales rose by 41.09 per cent between December and June this year.

The brand is stocked in more than 200 Tesco stores throughout the North of England and Morrisons are stocking them in Lancashire and Cheshire.

Harrogate Sausage Company produces 150,000 sausages a week at its North Yorkshire factory and, with ten staff employed, turnover is expected to be £1m this year.

Mr Keeble said: "We were thrilled to receive this award. Our aim has always been to produce fantastic tasting sausages, using pork from trusted suppliers and our own seasonings. It is great news that our customers like what we are doing and sales are growing rapidly. We appreciate the support of Tesco and other large supermarkets for our independent brand.”

Harrogate Sausage Company uses only pork meat, sourced from pigs from local farms. The only additional ingredients are seasonings, breadcrumbs, herbs and natural preservatives.

Mr Keeble said: "I’ve been making sausages since I left school. I believe that when you are buying food for your family to eat, you want something that is well made and well-priced. Quality shouldn’t be compromised in a bid to keep costs down and it would appear that customers across the North agree.”

Mr and Mrs Keeble, from Kirklington, Bedale, are also behind the "Heck" brand of sausages which featured in Alex Polizzi's "The Fixer" television programme last week and also founded the Debbie & Andrew brand of sausages which they later sold.