I think the personal relationship is a very, very important part, as in all partnerships – marriage, down to business partnerships - and we do get on very well together.

We started on this table. We started manufacturing, or making our own sauces. So we thought we'd take it out to the public and see what they think. It was the customer demand, really, that gave us the courage to go to that next level. And I thought surely we can reproduce these sauces on a bigger scale. But I don't think we really understood what we were taking on. We were going up against some of the large companies who, to launch a new product, would have maybe £2 million marketing budgets. We had nothing like that.

We used to do all the labels ourselves, and boil the jars ourselves. Then we realised we had to go on from that, and look at a more professional way of producing the product.

My key relationship is the manufacturer. I had to be able to work with them, to be able to go there whenever I wanted to discuss the product.

When we went from cottage industry to corporate concern that was very frightening. We've got everything on the line, now, this is it.

Our husbands have really encouraged us to do it. I mean amazingly so. And our children. When there are lows, they go, "No, it's a good product - keep going."

In January this year we started exporting our products to the United States. Initially Chicago, but now they're going to the West Coast, the East Coast.

My advice to anyone starting up a business is to really go through the process of researching your market very carefully. When you are successful, it will be so sweet - because you have worked till your fingers bled to make it happen. And then it does happen."