Beckenham butcher's gluten free bangers make national award final (From News Shopper)

Beckenham butcher's gluten free bangers make national award final

4:14pm Friday 16th November 2012 in Bromley By Robert Fisk

A SAUSAGE loving butcher family is sizzling with pride after their gluten free Cumberland was judged to be one of Britain’s best bangers.

When Tim Hixson and his daughter Sally, from Beckenham, were diagnosed with coeliac disease about 10 years ago they feared their sausage eating days were over.

But they were spurred on to create a gluten free variety which would be just as good as the others they sell at Smithfields Market in east London.

And after beating off competition from around 400 other sausage producers to reach the final six of the south east region during British Sausage Week, Mr Hixson’s son Tom says they have achieved their aim.

The 27-year-old, of Langley Park, Beckenham, said: “When they were diagnosed my dad and sister’s food choices were limited substantially, as sausage makers we wanted to make a gluten free sausage which was one best on the market for both coeliacs and sausages lovers.

“My dad loves his sausages and so he designed a gluten free sausage.

“They were judged to be better than gluten ones which he is really pleased about."

The third generation butcher added: “Hopefully this proves we have cracked it with a gluten free sausage which is now one of the best in the country which coeliacs and sausage lovers can enjoy.”

His family business Tom Hixson & Co has been trading at Smithfields Market for more than 30 years.

It is named after his granddad who worked at the market till he was 85 years old.