THE couple behind Debbie & Andrew’s sausages have launchedanewbrandafter losing control oftheir original.

On Monday, Debbie and Andrew Keeble’s “Heck” premium sausages appeared in all 600 Tescostoresandtalksareongoing with other major retailers.

The aim is simple – to run a food business with full traceability but without charging a premium to customers.

“It is a very, very tough time to launch a premium brand because money is tight, but with the horse meat scandalI do believe people will pay for good food,” saidMrKeeble,wholives nearBedale.

The pork comes from dedicated farmer suppliers who receive a price premium, and the current range of sausages includes gluten free, plain pork, and plump pork and apple.

Heck also produces chorizo, bratwurst and skinless sausages which can be used to makemeatballsandotherdishes.

The business is based at LeemingBarBusinessParkand aims to achieve sales of £2m to £4m in the first year.

Mr and Mrs Keeble launched Debbie&Andrew’s in2000and builtitintoabest-selling,multiaward winning range with a £2m annualturnover.

In 2005, to help speed up its growth, they sold it to JJ Tranfield, the then largest sausage producer in the UK.

They remained in charge of the brand butin 2007Tranfield itselfwasboughtbyDutchgiant Vion.

In 2011 production of the Debbie & Andrew’s brand was moved to a plant in Scotland and the Keebles lost control over production methods and ingredients.

They resigned and tried to buy the brand back but Vion sold itto ABP Foods instead.

The Keebles are taking legal action to force ABP to take images of Debbie and daughter Ellie off the website to avoid people thinking they are still involved.

They will not dwell on the past, and instead are looking forward to making Heck even more successful than their previous brand.

“Heck is really our family motto,” said Mr Keeble. “What the heck is our attitude to life, we like to think positive and get on with it.”

The couple invested £250,000onresearchandmarketing – Elmwood, the Leedsbased agency behind the successful Saucy Fish Co brand, designed Hecks brand and packaging.

They spent a further £300,000onmachinery,including a sausage making machine fromGermany whichis thought to be the first of its type in the country.

One aspects of the new venture is that their four children, and some of their friends, are all involved.

Roddy, 19, is head of production; Jamie, 23, is sales and marketing; Guy, is onthe family farm at Kirklington; whileEllie, 17, is still at college but helps out at weekends and during holidays.

“There are very few jobs for young people out there so it is great to be able to employ our childrenandtheir friends," said Mr Keeble.