A Darlington mother has launched an on-line continental food hall specialising in products not available in supermarkets.

Helen Beaumont dreamed of opening a gourmet food hall in the town but, as a mother of two babies, she needed to find a way of working from home.

"I gave up my job with Orange to look after Ben and Katie and, while at home, I was watching a lot of day-time television," she said. "Food is my passion and I love cooking, so I was watching these chefs who told me all their ingredients were available in the supermarket, but they are not.

"I've always dreamed of owning my own food hall but knew I couldn't get a shop until the children were older, so I started looking on the web and the idea just came to me to open an on-line one."

Using the internet, Miss Beaumont set up and registered her company, Relish the Continental.

She said: "I put all my ideas from the internet together and went to see the Darlington Business Venture team. They helped me sort out matters such as insurance, and customs and excise. They were very supportive.

"They also suggested I attend the Fine Food Fair in Harrogate, which was very useful and I met other small businesses from the region, which I will do business with in the future."

The internet also provided Miss Beaumont with contacts for her current seven suppliers.

"My partner, Chris, is from a farming background and, when I searched for suppliers, I looked for gourmet food, made by small producers who do not supply supermarkets. I wanted to sell produce with lots of flavour and which has a real sense of where it's from.

"Some of the producers are the really little guys from France, Spain and Italy, whose produce is seasonal and isn't always available every year.

"I don't sell cheap produce, but it's good produce."

Miss Beaumont's stock includes rare olive and flavoured oils, balsamic vinegar, pt, biscuits, nougat and gluten-free preservatives.

"At the moment I don't sell chilled produce such as fresh meat or cheese but that is my aim," she said. "I'm also looking to supply restaurants and caterers.

"The site is for food lovers and my customer numbers are starting to take up now.

"I hope to launch a couple of competitions with some magazines and UK Foods. I might ask people to make up a recipe using the produce from my site, and the best one will win a box of goods."

Miss Beaumont said the difficulty would be maintaining the service, but she hopes she will eventually build up a good enough customer base to open her very own gourmet food hall in Darlington.

She said: "For women starting in business it's important to get support and backing. Chris has supported me 100pc. He is the head green keeper at Headlam Hall Golf Course so it's difficult to get a balance between family and work for both of us.

"It's not easy having children and giving up work, but you shouldn't be scared about it. If you've got a good idea, follow it through and believe in yourself. Use local resources where possible.

"I'm doing something constructive where I can be around my children and beautiful produce - I love it."

Only orders of more than £25 are accepted by Relish the Continental but delivery is free for customers in Darlington, County Durham and for orders over £100. The company is on www.relishthecontinental.com and Darlington Business Venture can be contacted on 01325 289610.