A £10M SAUSAGE-MAKING company which started out in a farmhouse kitchen has scored further success by securing two deals with major supermarkets.

Debbie and Andrew’s has won a £1m distribution deal with Tesco for its gluten-free sausages, which is its biggest distribution contract to date.

In response, the company has launched two brands of gluten-free sausage, which will be stocked throughout Tesco’s UK stores, which it hopes will enable it to tap into a market estimated to be worth £120m by 2012.

And the business, which started in the kitchen at Debbie and Andrew Keeble’s farm near Thirsk, North Yorkshire, has also added to the number of major supermarkets which stock its premium sausages by securing a deal with Waitrose.

The brand, now the third biggest sausage brand in the UK behind Wall’s and Richmond, also supplies Tesco, Asda, Morrison’s and Sainsbury’s.

Waitrose will initially stock the Debbie and Andrew’s range in four of its UK stores.

The two deals are the latest in a string of successes for the business, which was started in 2000 as a means for Mr and Mrs Keeble to be able to afford a family holiday.

Now, having recently been endorsed by Sir Alan Sugar, Mr and Mrs Keeble predict turnover will double to £20m within three years, largely on the back of a deal they struck with Guinness earlier this year, to branch out into a range of food. A range of pies could be launched before the end of this year.

Mr Keeble said both deals were significant for the company, and will help with the company’s drive to become established as a national brand.

“We have a great customer base that understands the quality and provenance of our food, which is core to our values, and this is reflected in the sales we have achieved over the past year,” he said.

“Despite what is going on in the world, we are doing well and the Tesco deal is in line with our plans to de-localise the brand from its regional heartland.

“Everything from provenance and traceability through to supplier relationships is core to our values and securing the Waitrose listing is a great endorsement of our efforts.

We look forward to bringing our sausages to Waitrose customers.”