Cheers! - cordial couple celebrate exclusive Waitrose deal (From Stroud News and Journal)

Cheers! - cordial couple celebrate exclusive Waitrose deal

11:19am Wednesday 9th March 2011 in SNJ Business News By Nick Wakefield

A COUPLE who began creating their own soft drinks from the kitchen of their Stroud home look set to become household brand names after their range of cordials were snapped up by supermarket giant Waitrose.

Chris and Becky Verinder-Baker - who first launched Five Valleys Cordials at Stroud Farmers’ Market a few years ago - will this month see the delicious fruits of their labour occupying the store’s shelves across the UK.

The high-end chain is stocking the firm’s three most popular cordials – apricot and ginger, lemon and mint and pomegranate and rose – all of which have bagged a host of awards between them. Since opening their stall in Stroud, the company has attracted a dedicated following of customers and has branched out to neighbouring markets in Swindon and Cirencester.

The couple first met at Bottlegreen in Woodchester, where Chris was tasked with creating new flavours and Becky worked in sales and admin.

After travelling together they drew upon the inspiration of the Cotswold countryside and Stroud’s roots as an artisan industrial hub to think up new, mouth-watering flavours.

"We started out making the cordials on our kitchen stove then bottling them and taking them to farmers’ markets for customers to try," said Chris, 44.

"It was great to get feedback and that has helped us develop a range of drinks which really work.

"People are bored of apple and blackcurrant. They are looking for new and interesting drinks, so we have created some very different flavours which we are sure people will enjoy.

"I love putting unusual flavour combinations together and watching customers do a double-take when they try them.

"Our lemon and mint cordial took ages to get right because I wanted the mint to taste light and summery, just as it would if you picked it from your garden.

"I have lots more ideas bubbling in my head but in the meantime we are delighted that Waitrose is stocking our cordials and that customers across the country will be able to try them."