One of Britain’s largest family-run sausage producers has criticised the government for “systematically overlooking” small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), warning that current policies are threatening jobs, communities and food prices.
HECK!, the UK’s only large-scale, family-owned sausage factory, employs 120 people and supplies supermarkets including Tesco and Sainsbury’s. Despite pressures across the industry, the company is doubling the size of its factory in response to record demand.
Founder Andrew, who started HECK! in 2012 with his wife and children, said: “This is the second time in as many weeks I’ve felt the need to speak out and it’s no surprise. Small and medium-sized businesses like ours are keep getting overlooked. Meanwhile, it’s us, not the multinationals, who are adapting, innovating and doing the heavy lifting.”
The company says rising costs linked to wages, National Insurance, recycling taxes and red tape are fuelling food inflation, even as HECK! invests in solar energy and new machinery to keep prices down.
Andrew commented, “We fully support fair pay. But government-imposed hikes are squeezing us harder than ever. We can ask the public to buy great food, but we cannot ask them to pay for inefficiency.”
HECK! highlighted the scale of the challenge, noting that with 120 employees and more than 400 family members relying on the business, its impact extends across the local community. Nationally, the UK’s 5.6 million SMEs generate £2.8 trillion in turnover and employ 16.6 million people.
Andrew added: “This is the sector that matters. It’s not about handouts. It’s about a fair playing field and a government that recognises who’s keeping Britain going.”
As the business expands, Andrew called for action ahead of the Autumn budget and political conference season. He said: “The food industry isn’t just about supermarket shelves. It’s about people, pride and place. We are a purpose-led business and invest most of our profits into our people and the community, who supported us in the beginning, but if the government is serious about boosting the economy, they need to stop ignoring the real engine of it which is small and medium-sized businesses.”
