About Smyths
A family owned business rooted in the North West of England.
At Smyths Ingredients & Flavours, we are a proud, family-owned business with a rich history that spans generations. The food industry is in our blood, and for over four decades, we have been dedicated to supplying the finest ingredients, seasonings, and flavours to the UK’s food industry.
How it started...
Our journey began in 1975 when John Smyth owned Sunfood Cooked Meats, a butcher's shop in Blackpool, where his son Paul grew up working. John, renowned for his expertise in meat production, worked for major food machinery companies across the UK and Europe, further deepening his passion for the industry.
In 1989, John and Paul co-founded Ricon Food Technology, initially supplying machinery and ingredients to the food industry. Their dedication and expertise helped build the company into a large, successful factory producing quality ingredients, including cooked meat blends, dry cures, and snack food seasonings. Many of the top UK butchers and large manufacturers, some of whom we still work with today, were among their earliest customers.
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John Smyth on a Ricon stand at an exhibition in the early 90s
A new millennium
After the sale of Ricon, Paul and John took a break before founding Smyths Ingredients in 2000, continuing their legacy of excellence. In 2011, Paul’s eldest son, Ben, joined the business, and together they launched our flavours division, expanding the range of high-quality products we offer.
By 2017, the third generation of the Smyth family - Ben, Caitlin, and Sam - had all joined the business, bringing fresh energy and ideas to continue the company’s growth and success. In 2020, we expanded further with the launch of Peak Blends, a health and nutrition brand offering retail products and wholesale solutions to producers, cafes, gyms, and more.
Paul & Ben Smyth at FoodEx 2012
International Recognition
Today, Smyths Ingredients & Flavours is a 100% independent, family-run business, supplying all sectors of the food industry both in the UK and internationally. We work closely with a network of suppliers across Europe to source and distribute the highest quality products. Our family’s dedication, expertise, and passion for quality are the foundation of everything we do, and we’re proud to continue our legacy of excellence in the food industry.