A Sussex-based pie maker and Nottingham-based rum cake supplier are the first two winners of the new TV show Aldi's Next Big Thing, each winning a national supermarket listing. The new show gives independent food and beverage producers from all around the UK a shot at pitching their products to supermarket chain Aldi, with episode one airing on 20th October.
A judging panel consisting of Aldi's own MD of Buying, Julie Ashfield as well as TV presenter Anita Rani and cookbook author Chris Bavin, assesses six contestants each episode before deciding which one will win a listing at Aldi.
Week one's winner was Mud Foods, from Midhurst, who's Chip Shop Chicken Curry Pie came out on top in the opening episode of the show. It bettered the other finalist - Mandira's Kitchen, makers of Indian food for both catering and online sales.
The following episode saw cake supplier Harrison & Griffiths win their listing with the supermarket with Aldi's Ashfield saying the rum cake was "the best product I've eaten in the history of products I've eaten."
Co-founders Colin Harrison and Paulette Griffiths have been making rum hake together since 2016, with the victorious Caribbean fruit cake featured on Aldi's Next Big Thing being based on a version of Harrison's mother's recipe.