Cleone Foods began when its founder Wade Lyn moved to England from Jamaica and set out to bring an authentic taste of the Caribbean to the UK.

Today, he is making over 100,000 Island Delight patties a week for retailers across the country and it all started with a young man’s passion for food from his home.

Patties are at the heart of traditional Caribbean cuisine and part of every day life across the islands; from Jamaica to Antigua. The recipe has remained the same for years; a light pastry crust is filled with fresh ingredients like chicken, beef, lamb, salt fish, vegetables and Caribbean spices then cooked until the pastry is golden.

“Growing up in the Caribbean patties were a staple for all of the family. We would eat patties as a snack at lunch time or as a main meal in the evening. When I came over to the UK as a teenager I was surprised to find how difficult it was to buy a pattie, and a bag of chips just wasn’t the same. Later on I decided I wanted to help bring the vibrant Caribbean tastes and flavours I grew up with to the British market.”

Wade set up Cleone Foods and started selling his authentic Island Delight patties to small retailers. He soon attracted attention from supermarkets as Caribbean patties became increasingly popular with the British public.

“As demand for Island Delight patties started to grow I was always careful to ensure the recipe remained authentic and the fillings traditional. I regularly returned to Jamaica and spent time with my mother and also Aunt Dell who ran the small bakery in my home town. Aunt Dell helped me develop new fillings that were popular in Jamaica and I still ring her now. It has always been really important to me that Island Delight patties remain authentic.”

Island Delight currently accounts for 55% of the pattie market and is continually growing, with new retailers coming on board all the time.

In 2008 Wade launched a range of Island Delight savoury slices that fuse the best of Caribbean cooking in a very British savoury slice.

“Our Slices are a real fusion of Caribbean and British personality. We make every slice using the finest meat and then mix in a selection of peppers, onions and spices to bring them to life. Caribbean culture and influence continues to be an extremely important part of modern British cuisine. With our new range of slices we have taken the very best of the Caribbean’s vibrant and exciting flavours and fused them into a traditional British savoury slice."

The range includes Spicy Chicken and Spicy Beef slices which are made with the finest British ingredients fused with Caribbean inspired spices to create a delicious savoury snack.