We make two ranges of delicious, award-winning hand-made preserves, curds, chutneys, mustards and sauces, using only the finest natural ingredients. These are made with love from our kitchen/shop at Staveley in Cumbria.
Friendly Food and Drink uses fructose (fruit sugar), resulting in our products having a low G.I. They can be more flavoursome as well as there is no glucose masking the flavours. These fantastic preserves are glucose-free, gluten-free, nut-free and dairy-free (except curds).
We believe in making products that are suitable for the whole family, no matter what their tastes or culinary needs. Therefore all of the products in our Friendly Food & Drink range are naturally delicious. Glucose-free and gluten-free; just goodness.
- Made using fructose (fruit sugar)
- More suitable for diabetics, low G.I.
- Glucose-free
- Gluten-free and wheat-free
- No nuts or seeds
- Dairy-free (except in our curds)
Our Cumbrian Delights is a range of hand-made preserves, chutneys and sauces using only natural ingredients and with links to Cumbria/ the Lake District with all its varied culinary creations; a true testament to the region.
We believe in making a varied range of products so there is something for everyone regardless of their taste, whether it be hot and spicy like the Cumbrian Hot Spot or Sweet Garlic Pickle. Or if they prefer something sweeter, then there is the range of Sticky Toffee Sauces. You are sure to find something for the whole family!
- Gluten-free and wheat-free
- No nuts or seeds
- Dairy-free (except in our curds and toffee sauces)
We are dedicated to a personal "friendly" service and are passionate about everything we make. We hope you enjoy browsing our site and purchasing our products, and then please leave any testimonials afterwards so others can know how good our products are and not just us saying so. If you have any comments or questions, please contact us; we will be happy to help.
I little bit about myself (Geoff Monkman) chief cook, jar washer, labeler, sales person, delivery man; basically I can do all of the jobs relating to the business and very often need to.
Since leaving school I was always interested in catering and I went to study for a BTec in Hotel, Catering and Institutional Operations at Kirby College in the North East, before going on to do a degree at Sheffield Polytechnic in Catering Systems. During this time I worked every one of my vacations in a hotel in Ambleside gaining valuable experience. After leaving Sheffield, I continued working in Hotels in a managerial role but I was always very hands on and could cover any department when need to. My wife (at the time) and I then took on a busy coffee shop before running a public house for ourselves. Unfortunately the pub was just in the wrong place at the wrong time and we quickly gave it up. After two years as a Co-op store manager I returned to Hotels, during which time we had two beautiful children. The combination of long hours in the hotel and family life didn't go hand in hand, so when I had the opportunity of going and working with a friend to help him expand their café and relish business I took it. After three years we parted company and I decided to set up Friendly Food and Drink with a business partner, Lorraine, again making relishes and preserves but using fruit sugar so they were aimed at a different market. After three years Lorraine had managed to study for a degree whilst running the business with myself and wanted to further her career. At this point I was faced with the decision to wind the company up, sell up or carry on my own. Well, we had but our heart and soul into the business for far too long so the only answer was to carry on at which point I launched Cumbrian Delights. Now we are going from strength to strength, having met HRH Prince Charles as well as winning numerous awards over the last few years.