jolly hog sausages

Premium pork brand The Jolly Hog has been boosted by a major increase in listings with Sainsbury’s, which will see the retailer sell its bacon lines for the first time and significantly increase the availability of its sausages.

The Bristol-based brand - established eight years ago by ex-Wales rugby international Olly Kohn and his brothers Max and Josh - has secured listings in 184 Sainsbury’s stores from 25 January for its 200g packs of double smoked dry cured back bacon; an unsmoked version, and an extra thick-sliced, black treacle bacon (rsp: £3).

The Jolly Hog’s Proper Porker and Caramelised Porker sausages (rsp: £3/400g) are now also available in 202 stores (up from 39) across the South of England and South Wales. The brand also sells in Ocado and in 30 Morrisons stores.

“This is the best possible start to the year for us,” said Kohn. “The whole family has been gearing up to take the business to the next level, so we are looking for strong sales from the outset. Our bacon and sausages speak for themselves in terms of quality and flavour, so our task is to introduce the brand to consumers.”

The brand will support the listings boost with the launch of a “comprehensive” marketing campaign over the next three months, Kohn added. Activity will include the launch of an animation created by a former Aardman Animations illustrator, and promotional activity including free rugby coaching for schools, The Jolly Hog hampers and tickets to international sporting fixtures.