Pop bar not all corny (From Dorset Echo)

Pop bar not all corny

3:15pm Wednesday 14th December 2011 in Business By Joanna Davis

BEING stood up on a date has led a former Army officer to his very own happily ever after.

Bridport entrepreneur Gordon Leatherdale has developed the first popcorn bar of its kind that has found its way to the shelves of Harvey Nichols and Selfridges.

The popped corn bars have also become bars to the stars after they were ordered by MTV for its superstar party after the MTV European Music Awards in Belfast.

The upmarket wholegrain bar was devised after former Devon & Dorset Regiment officer Gordon was stood up at the cinema and began fiddling around with a carton of popcorn.

He thought about how it might be easier to eat popcorn as a popcorn bar and began experimenting.

Gordon said: “I discovered that popcorn is a wholegrain and better than oats for antioxidants and fibre.

“It seemed a healthy and tasty idea to mix it with seeds, nuts and fruit.

“I invented the Wild Trail bar in my cottage kitchen and production moved to Sherborne. The first proper trial was done at Washingpool Farm Shop near Bridport.

“Everyone who tried them said they would love to see them in the shop, so it was decided to see if they would sell more widely.”

The bars are now stocked in over 250 outlets including Steins Deli, Harvey Nichols and Selfridges and 16 national wholesalers list the product.

Gordon said he came up with the name ‘Wild Trail’ on the beach at Burton Bradstock because it summed up wild ingredients, adventure and reflected the rugged scenery of West Dorset and Lyme Bay. We did experiments to achieve a six month shelf life, ethical sourcing of ingredients and the bars were launched in farm shops, independents, delis and cafes.

“We are the only cereal bar sold in Selfridges and Harvey Nichols.”

Wild Trail Foods is based at Pineapple Business Park in Salway Ash. The products are all made by hand and the seeds, nuts and fruits come from accredited farmers in Indonesia and Africa and the popcorn comes from a farm in Utah.

The team has developed three flavours – cranberry and yoghurt, apple and raspberry and fruit and double nut. Gordon said: “We are focused mainly on taste and it just so happened that popped corn is even better for you than oats.

“In the growing market for premium foods, popped corn and cereal bars, we hope this combination appeals to consumers who are seeking a high quality alternative to mainstream products.”