Cooking pastes brand Kursat’s has been on the market for less than two years and has already scored a hat-trick of wins at the Farm Shop & Deli Product Awards.
Kursat’s is the creation of Kursat Pisil, who completed a high school education in Ghana before studying genetics and bioengineering in Bosnia & Herzegovina. He combined this scientific background with his passion for food by going on to complete an MSc in food science and technology in Wales.
Since 2021, he has worked as a development chef at Welsh business Beacon Foods, developing more than 4,000 recipes, many that have featured in products on the shelves of major UK retailers.
Keen to start his own business, Pisil handed in his notice in 2023. However, Beacon’s chairman saw an opportunity to build something together and proposed a partnership. This has allowed Pisil to develop his own brand while continuing to work at Beacon, with the Kursat’s range produced at Beacon’s BRC AA-grade manufacturing facility in Brecon.
“My original vision was to create a range of pastes inspired by flavours from around the world, bringing less familiar and often overlooked recipes to a wider audience,” says Pisil.
This vision has led to the development of nine products across three distinct ranges: Essentials focuses on everyday cooking ingredients and comprises Garlic Paste, Root Ginger Paste and Red Chilli Paste. The Elevate lineup celebrates traditional techniques and flavours that require patience and care to develop, and comprises Pickled Garlic Confit, Preserved Lemon and Caramelised Onion. World Flavours explores different culinary traditions and comprises Ezme inspired by Turkish cuisine, Enchilada Paste and South African BBQ.
“Every product in the range goes through extensive development, with at least 20 versions tested before reaching its final recipe,” says Pisil. “Different ingredients, proportions, preparation methods and cooking processes are explored to achieve the best possible result.”
First exhibited to the trade and public in 2025, the brand is now carried in farm shops, delis and garden centres including Panzer’s Delicatessen in London and Macknade Food Hall in Kent, as well as through the foodservice channel.
The brand’s first wholesaler was Diverse Fine Food, and it remains one of Kursat’s key distribution partners. Kursat’s also secured a place at Fortnum & Mason following its success in the retailer’s 2026 Open Call competition.
Further success came in April when three of the brand’s pastes – Ezme, Enchilada and Pickled Garlic Confit – were given a coveted Gold rating in the Farm Shop & Deli Product Awards.
“Ezme has a particularly personal connection and is inspired by the cuisine of my home country, Turkey,” says Pisil. “Traditionally served as a mezze before a meal, ezme is fresh, spicy and tangy, with a flavour profile rooted in the eastern Mediterranean, the Balkans and the Middle East.”
When it came to his Enchilada Paste, Pisil wanted to capture the broader flavour profile associated with Mexican cooking.
“As someone who enjoys cooking Mexican dishes, I drew inspiration from the recurring combination of chillies, onion, tomato, garlic and spices found in dishes such as birria, burritos and tacos,” he explains, adding that the recipe combines ancho and guajillo chillies with spices to create a versatile paste.
Pisil says the Pickled Garlic Confit presented a particular development challenge as the production process is deliberately slow and requires careful temperature control, with the garlic cooked gently over an extended period. “This time-intensive process is far removed from conventional large-scale production methods, but it is central to achieving the product’s distinctive character.”
Winning Gold for all three products has been a reminder that the time and effort invested has been worthwhile, he adds. “For a young business, receiving this level of recognition is both encouraging and motivating, reinforcing the value of the care and attention that goes into every recipe,” he says, adding his ambition for Kursat’s is to become one of the first brands people think of when looking for premium cupboard ingredients.
To this end, further NPD is planned for launch in mid-2027, and the business is also looking at alternative packaging formats to suit different sales channels and customer needs. “The aim is making our products accessible to a wider market while staying true to our focus on authentic flavours and carefully prepared ingredients.”
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