Homemade Welsh rarebit hits the shelves at Tesco

A woman who started making Welsh rarebit at home just two years ago is now going to see the dish on shelves of supermarkets across Wales.

Natalie Nield-Siddall from St Asaph started selling at Llanberis farmers' market in Gwynedd in April 2008.

But last year she moved into a unit near Denbigh, and her seven staff produce 20,000 rarebits a week.

Ms Nield-Siddall said she was "thrilled" with the order.

The idea behind for her dish emerged two years ago when she produced it for her partner, Dean, who "longed" for Welsh rarebit like his grandmother used to make.

Friends and family liked the taste, and this got her thinking.

She began selling at Llanberis Farmers' Market, where her first 30 pots sold in less than two hours.

A year later she moved her business into the purpose-built industrial unit at Llandyrnog near Denbigh.

A processing and marketing grant from the Welsh Assembly Government funded 40% of the investment cost.

Ms Nield-Siddall approached Tesco while she was still making her rarebit at home.

She said: "Two of their Welsh buyers came to visit me at home to try my rarebit and they loved it.

"That was a big vote of confidence and gave us the impetus to invest in new premises and increase production.

"We are thrilled to be supplying Tesco and can't wait to see what their shoppers think of Natty's Welsh Rarebit."

Her company also uses locally produced ingredients.

The supermarket's Mark Grant said they were looking forward to launching the product in stores across 45 outlets in Wales.

"It is a fantastic product that I am sure customers will be delighted with."