Everyone at the Weald Smokery makes their own unique contribution to what we do. What they share is a deep and abiding love of good food, an absolute commitment to quality, and a genuine desire to serve, help and delight our customers. If there’s anything we can do, or that you’d like to know, these are the people to talk to.
Andrew believes we’re special because: we adhere to old-fashioned values, service and quality, and treat everyone as a person, not a number A qualified chartered surveyor, Andrew fulfilled his long-held dream of running his own food business when he bought the Weald Smokery in 1990. Under his ownership, it’s grown from a small shed with two kilns to a thriving enterprise with a shop, brasserie, production areas and nine kilns. Andrew remains very much hands-on, overseeing the quality of all our products and maintaining relationships with our wholesale and retail customers, many of whom have been with us since Day One.
Dan loves an early finish on a Friday! Dan has been in the catering industry since the age of 14! He studied catering at college, worked in a butchers for 4 years and started working at the Smokery in 2012. He now oversees all aspects of our production and stock, managing our wholesale operation.
Michael enjoys motorcycles and mountain biking in his spare time. Michael worked locally in retail shops before coming to the Smokery. He has worked his way up to head smoker, having been trained in the artisan skills by Dan over a period of months.
Claire also loves working in the café and is always keen to sample new dishes! Claire’s background is perfect for the multi-tasking job she now has in the Smokery office and mail order room. She worked as a PA in the Burton Group for the beginning of her career, then stopped to bring up her children and is now very happy to be back using her organisational skills in retail with a switch from fashion to food.
Nona enjoys the team effort involved in getting the product onto the shop floor. Nona has a lifetime of retail experience selling everything from expensive London property to children’s school uniform and for several years ran her own company selling ski wear. She has been working at The Weald Smokery since 2016 and when our café was closed in Spring 2020, she used her retail skills to successfully enlarge and develop the shop to now offer a wide range of both speciality and every day items, plus a selection of lovely gifts. The personal and friendly attention to her customers has gained a loyal following as she works hard to fill the shop with customer’s requests. If you can’t see it just ask Nona and she will do her best to have it on the shelves for you.
Our customers describe The Weald Smokery as ‘the perfect grown-up sweet shop’!
