A WOMAN from Worcester, who makes Christmas puddings to her great-grandmother’s recipe, has hopped across the pond in a bid to taste more international success after winning export orders to Ireland.

Ellen Halpin-Barnett, who launched her fourth generation Grandma Lily’s Christmas Puddings in July at the Windsor Food Festival, is in Chicago this week on the inaugural Midlands Engine trade mission to the USA and Canada to tempt North American buyers after Irish stores snapped up her tasty festive treat.

The Midlands Engine trade mission is the first time businesses and organisations from across the region have come together as one to promote trade opportunities.

And the food producer, who trades under Luxury Hampers and Gifts Ltd and has been working with the Department for International Trade’s Worcestershire team since January to explore export opportunities, said she was ready to take on the global challenge.

“I’m already stocked in local farm shops and I’m hoping to expand the number of outlets here and I’ve had great success so far at a number of food fairs,” she said.

“Ireland was the natural place to start exporting and I’m delighted that I’ve already attracted a number of outlets but my dream is to sell to the US, where there is a huge Irish population.

“I have a lot of family in Boston and they believe the product will go down well in the US, which is why the Midlands Engine trade mission appealed to me. I’m very excited by the export opportunities – the sky is the limit.”

Her American dream came after a string of hotels, farm shops and local stores in County Mayo, Ireland, took orders for her lighter festive puds, which are made to a recipe that originates from the Irish county and is where her family are from.

The recipe has remained unchanged since her great-grandmother Lily began making it in the 1880s and is a light, fruit filled pudding, flavoured with warm Christmas spices and liberally laced with Irish whiskey.

Ellen began to make the puds commercially when her family and friends encouraged her to include them in the luxury hampers she sells online.

Ian Harrison, acting director of the Department for International Trade in the Midlands, said: “The Midlands Engine trade mission is the ideal opportunity for businesses across the region to showcase their amazing products and demonstrates that we want to help the smallest of businesses with their exporting plans.

“It complements our Exporting is GREAT campaign, which is really driving home the message that no matter what business you have, there are international opportunities and we have the expertise to help you win them.”

The visit took place from Sunday September 18 to Thursday September 22 and focused on three separate business sectors – automotive; manufacturing and aerospace; and food and drink.