After a turbulent five years, Jamie Keeble, the sales director of a Yorkshire-based sausage manufacturer, shares insights on the company’s struggle and recovery.
After a period marked by significant financial setbacks, Yorkshire-based sausage manufacturer Heck is on the road to recovery. The company, led by Jamie Keeble since 2017, operates from a 500-acre farm and has witnessed substantial changes over the past years.
Initially enjoying a pre-tax profit of almost £722,000 in its 2018 financial year, Heck faced severe challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic and the cost of living crisis. These events led to a pre-tax loss of £518,166 and a reduction in turnover by over £1 million within one year, according to City AM.
Jamie Keeble, who had to make difficult decisions such as staff redundancies during this challenging period, noted, “That period really taught me how quickly things can change.” He adds, “That was terrible, but ultimately the lessons we learned from it have made the business stronger.”
Looking forward, Heck aims to increase its turnover by 10% by the end of the 2024 financial year, bolstered by innovative new products like “sausage rashers.”
“We want to get our turnover up to £50m in the next five years. At the moment we’re just shy of £30m,” Keeble articulated, while also acknowledging external pressures: “I think, if it wasn’t for the pandemic and the awful situation in Ukraine, we could have got there a lot quicker.”
He remains optimistic, stating, “But now the dust settled, we’re in a fantastic position to make those goals a reality.”
Jamie Keeble also shared insights into his personal journey, detailing his unexpected career shift from aspiring professional yachtmaster to taking the helm at the family business.
Before joining the family endeavour, Jamie had no initial intention of involving himself in yachting. His ambitions were centred on his parents’ enterprise, a pioneering premium sausage brand in supermarkets. “I spent most of my childhood thinking I’d work for the business, but then they sold the company in 2005 and that opportunity vanished for me overnight.”
Despite his Yorkshire roots, the appeal of the yachting world drew him away. “Growing up in Yorkshire and being nowhere near the sea, being on a yacht seemed very exciting, so I disappeared for six months to get qualified,” he recounted.
However, before embarking on his new career, a proposal from his parents to assist with launching a new venture brought him back. “They said they were ready to start again with a new company but they needed my help to get it up and running.” Jamie did not hesitate, and six months later, Heck was launched.
Jamie Keeble, one of the masterminds behind the success of Heck, chose the family business over his yachting aspirations, committing fully to the enterprise and guiding it through challenging times to its current position of strength.
Jamie Keeble’s journey underscores the resilience and adaptability required in steering a family business through turbulent times. His decisions and the innovations at Heck highlight a promising future for the company.