Today we caught up with Lisa to discover the story behind The Yummy Yank - what inspired her to start her business, and the impact that winning Gold in the 2023 Quality Food Awards has had on her business.

Can you tell us about the founding story of The Yummy Yank and how it all began?

The Yummy Yank began in my home kitchen. The name was the obvious and also a tribute to my Dad and Uncle whose nicknames were Yummy and Yankee. I made a range of traditional American bakes, selling them at our local village farmers’ market.

Nearly 20 years later, we have gone from strength to strength, now baking in a BRC “AA+” facility, turning what was once a monthly hobby into an established brand, servicing online, wholesale and at countless food and drink festivals up and down the country.

What motivated you to create your award-winning Brownie Snaps?

For many years I enjoyed a product found in the US – and any time I visited my US home I treated myself to a bag of these. I thought to myself “how great would it be if I could emulate these in the UK”. Having recreated the recipe almost to a “t” minus preservatives, the method of making was too labour-intensive to turn these into a viable commercial product.

A piece of equipment was available to me that lent itself to a different production method suited to the batter I had formulated – and so – Brownie Snaps were born!

How does The Yummy Yank differentiate itself from other small producers in the food industry?

I am true to who I am. I am an American who has been living in the UK for over 27 years. All I know is American baking. I didn’t hop on the trend train, it’s what I have done all of my life and especially in the years since The Yummy Yank began.

What challenges did you face in developing your Brownie Snaps, and how did you overcome them?

I began experimenting with Brownie Snap batters suitable for use in the equipment at our facility overcoming various challenges involving moisture content, malleability and consistency.

Over the two years of COVID, multiple batters were run until we achieved the perfect Brownie Snap which is nothing like the original “inspiration” and in my opinion, much better!

How did winning Gold at the UK Quality Food and Drink Awards impact your business?

To have our Brownie Snaps Chocolate with a Hint of Raspberry win the Gold in the Best Biscuit category alongside Aldi is a huge achievement for a small, artisan producer. It has opened up doors for potential TV exposure and has brought credibility and awareness of the product to the fore.

What sets your Brownie Snaps apart from alternative products on the market?

In our opinion, our Brownie Snaps are a unique product to the market. They are not only a treat to satisfy a sweet tooth craving to be dunked or dipped in a hot drink, milk and ice cream but they are also a perfect pairing for cheese and/or alcohol making them a treat for the entire family.

How does The Yummy Yank ensure the quality and consistency of its products?

As we bake in a BRC “AA+” facility, our standards are at the highest level with very detailed and precise recipe and manufacturing controls.

What inspired you to participate in the Quality Food Awards, and what benefits have you gained from the experience?

I entered our Brownie Snaps – Chocolate with a hint of Raspberry because I felt that the standard of these cookies were as good, if not better, than anything else out there on the market. I was hoping other people would feel the same way – not believing for one second that they would perform as well as they did against the bigger companies – but always hoping that they could!

This experience has proven to me that even a small producer can achieve recognition if the product’s quality is up there with the best.

How does The Yummy Yank maintain a balance between tradition and innovation?

Ever since the conception of The Yummy Yank, I have always based my bakes on traditional recipes but giving them a 21st century twist. Brownie Snaps were our first packaged, long shelf life product deviating from the traditional American bakes and a real innovation in themselves.

What impact do you hope to make on the food industry with your award-winning products?

I am hopeful that the market will appreciate that there is a place for high quality, unique and delicious products in markets around the World.

What advice would you offer to aspiring food entrepreneurs who are just starting their journey?

No matter your age, no matter your previous experience – don’t give up on your dreams. Hard work, determination and confidence can make them achievable.

How do you envision the future of The Yummy Yank and its product offerings? Could you share any upcoming projects or new product developments that the business has in the pipeline?

The Yummy Yank is hoping to grow their packaged, long shelf-life products, not leaving the fresh food market, but developing more Brownie Snap flavours, as well as creating beverages to complement them as well.

What does winning a Quality Food Award mean for The Yummy Yank team and its morale?

When myself and The Yummy Yank team were working so hard over two years to make this product become a reality, winning awards are recognition of the hard work and belief in the product that everybody has put into them and keeps us moving forward.

Lastly, what message would you like to convey to other small producers considering entering the UK Quality Food and Drink Awards this year?

Don’t let the size of your business dissuade you from entering any awards. If you believe in your products, anything is achievable.

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The entry cost for qualifying Small Producers* this year is just £79 per product.

Request your Small Producer Discount code here.

Small Producers' products are judged in categories alongside other products but products are not judged against one another. Our panel judges products against our stringent 10 step judging criteria within their own right. This means that some categories may see multiple accolades awarded, and others may not see any at all.

Take a look at our judging criteria here.

All Small Producer entries also have the opportunity to win our Small Producer award - which Ambry won in 2023.

Browse our vast range of categories here.

Entries are open until Friday 28 June 2024.

*to qualify as a Small Producer, you must have annual sales of under £2million and fewer than 10 staff. Your product(s) must be available for consumers to purchase, either online or instore this year.