Page 40 • The HERALD • 2nd April 2026 v F @heraldpublishing v K & V Graham Est.1974 We Are Local Caterers We Can Supply These Units For All Outdoor Events Freshly Made Donuts Barista Coffee Pic N Mix Sweets Candy Floss Slush Ice Drink Spanish Churros Chocolate Covered Fresh Strawberries 5 STAR HYGIENE RATING ALL RELEVANT PAPERWORK Email for more information: vicki.graham@yahoo.co.uk FOOD FOR THOUGHT More Than A Biscuit: The Women Behind New Forest Shortbread In the heart of the New Forest, a small business is quietly rede ning what a local product can be. New Forest Shortbread is, on the surface, exactly what it says, handmade shortbread, cra ed with simple ingredients and traditional methods. But behind each box is something far more meaningful. It is a story of two women, Tracy, the founder, and Monika, a baker, whose shared values of care, resilience, and pride in their work have shaped the business into what it is today. Tracy started the business with a simple intention: she wasn’t ready to stop working. Having spent a lifetime in sales, from market stalls to corporate roles, she returned to something she loved - baking. remain unchanged. Everything is still made by hand, with the same attention and pride that de ned those early batches. And behind the scenes, the team operates more like a family than a factory. “There’s a lot people don’t see,” Monika says. “The support, the laughter… the way we look after each other.” Ultimately, what sets New Forest Shortbread apart is not just the quality of the product, but the feeling it creates. For Tracy, that has always been the goal. “It’s not just about the shortbread,” she says. “It’s about how it makes people feel.” From the moment a customer opens the box, there is a sense of place, of care, of something thoughtfully made. A simple gesture, but one that turns a piece of shortbread into a memory. Encouraged by family and friends, she began selling shortbread, rst locally and then to New Forest hotels and farm shops. But it was never just about the product. Each box was designed to feel like a welcome, a small introduction to the Forest itself, with illustrated details and stories that connect visitors to the place they are staying. “I wanted it to feel thoughtful,” Tracy explains. “Something personal. Something people might keep.” at idea began to take hold, with hotels placing orders and the concept gaining momentum, until COVID brought everything to a sudden halt. With orders cancelled and investment tied up in packaging, the future of the business was uncertain. But instead of stepping back, Tracy turned to her community, creating a Award winning shortbread “Buy It Forward” model that invited people to support the business during lockdown. e response was immediate. “It wasn’t just sales,” she says. “It was belief.” At the same time, the business continued to grow from within. Monika joined Tracy initially as a part-time housekeeper, before being asked to help pack and then bake the shortbread. “I never imagined it would become my full-time job,” she says. “But I’m very glad it did.” Her journey re ects the ethos of the business itself: learning step by step, supporting one another, and taking pride in doing things properly. Today, she plays a key role in maintaining the quality of the product, ensuring consistency, attention to detail, and high standards across the bakery as well as creating new and interesting avours. “Doing things properly means not cutting corners,” she Monika and Tracy, New Forest Shortbread explains. “It’s about care and working together.” at care is visible in every part of the business. Despite signi cant growth, producing twelve tons of shortbread in 2025 alone, the original recipe and methods A brand-new two-day food market celebrating the incredible food and drink produced locally in Hampshire is taking place in the Courtyard at Sir Harold Hillier Gardens in Romsey on 24th and 25th April, 9.30am – 4pm. Presented by CW Events Hampshire, Food in the Gardens will o er the opportunity to sample and buy local produce. From artisan bakes to small-batch spirits, there will be something delicious for everyone to enjoy. Entry is FREE to Food in the Gardens, the Visitor Centre, Shop and Café (charges apply to enter the Gardens). FOOD IN THE GARDENS To mark six decades at the heart of British summers, the iconic Freezepops brand, Mr Freeze, is hitting the road this year with two ve-day UK tours celebrating childhood joy, shared memories and the simple belief that we’re all still kids at heart. e Too Cool To Grow Up road trip forms part of Mr Freeze’s 60th birthday celebrations and will bring playful pop-up moments to various locations across the UK this spring and summer — popping up at familyfavourite places across the country, including Southampton on Friday 29th May, handing out Freezepops, and encouraging everyone to embrace their inner child. Alongside the tour, Mr Freeze will launch a special limited edition Party Pack with ve brand new avours, created to celebrate the brand’s 60th birthday. e party pack features ve unique avours: Banana Custard, Chocolate Covered Strawberry, Marshmallow, Cherry Cola and Raspberry Ripple. e brand is also running an on-pack promotion on the Party Pack where you can scan the on-pack QR code and spin to win a selection of prizes ranging from Merlin vouchers for a family of four, to Mr Freeze merch bundles. First launched in 1966, Mr Freeze has become a xture of British childhoods — from freezer drawers and corner shops to summer holidays and a er-school treats. Follow Mr Freeze on social media to stay up to date with the tour, and be the rst to hear when speci c locations are announced: TT:@mrfreezepops, IG:@mr.freezepops, and FB:@MrFreezeO cial) Mr Freeze’s 60th Birthday Tour To Visit Southampton
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