18th birthday celebrations for island delight
Jamaican-born Wade Lyn is enjoying the taste of success as his company, Birmingham-based Cleone Foods, celebrates its 18th birthday.
In 1988 Wade set out to bring the authentic taste of the Caribbean to the UK. Today, Wade is making over 100,000 Island Delight patties a week for people across the country and it all started with a young man’s passion for food from his home.
Patties are at the heart of traditional Caribbean cuisine and part of every day life across the islands; from Jamaica to Antigua. The recipe has remained the same for years; a light pastry crust is filled with fresh ingredients like chicken, lamb, vegetables and Caribbean spices then cooked until the pastry is golden.
Wade Lyn, managing director and founder of Cleone Foods celebrating its 18th birthday in August said: “Growing up in the Caribbean patties were a staple for all of the family. We would eat patties as a snack at lunch time or as a main meal in the evening.
“When I came over to the UK as a teenager I was surprised to find how difficult it was to buy a pattie, and a bag of chips just wasn’t the same. Later on I decided I wanted to help bring the vibrant Caribbean tastes and flavours I grew up with to the British market.”
Wade set up Cleone Foods and started selling to small retailers. He soon attracted attention from supermarkets as Caribbean patties became increasingly popular with the British public.
Wade said: “As demand for Island Delight patties started to grow I was always careful to ensure the recipe remained authentic and the fillings traditional. I regularly returned to Jamaica and spent time with my mother and also Aunt Dell who ran the small bakery in my home town. Aunt Dell helped me develop new fillings that were popular in Jamaica and I still ring her now. It has always been really important to me that Island Delight patties remain authentic.”
Island Delight patties are currently available with seven delicious fillings, including vegetable, chicken, beef, lamb, salt fish, halal chicken and halal lamb.
Ethnic foods are increasingly popular with the British public as they continually look for a new and exciting culinary experience. Caribbean cuisine is proving extremely popular and the increased sales of Island Delight patties across the country shows that it’s here to stay.
Island Delight currently accounts for 55% of the pattie market and is continually growing, with new retailers coming on board all the time. Currently Island Delight patties are available in Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Iceland and Somerfield stores across the UK.