Walsall company comes up to scratch for TV

The firm will be appearing on Ade in Britain, where comedian Ade Edmondson explores England's best-loved homemade foods. The company, which is based in Newfield Close, Walsall, is no stranger to TV appearances having already featured on BBC One's The One Show. And bosses and staff at the family-run firm are preparing themselves for another screen appearance, with the ITV show due to be shown at 4pm on March 27.

Filming took place in June and sent waves of excitement around the industrial estate off Green Lane where the company is based.

Shaun Simmons, aged 46, who runs the company with his father Graham, 69, and 44-year-old brother Mark, said it had been an enjoyable experience.

"Ade Edmondson was really good, really down to earth and very approachable," he said.

"We asked if we could have our picture taken with him and he didn't mind at all.

"All the people from the units around us came out to have a look too and he signed autographs for them and posed for pictures."

G Simmons & Sons have been making pork scratchings for more than 40 years, starting from the back of a butchers' shop more than 40 years ago and going on to specialise in them.

For the past 18 years, they have been manufacturing the popular snack from the unit in Walsall after moving from Lower Lichfield Street in Willenhall.

Nine of the company's 21 workers are part of the Simmons family.

Shaun Simmons said that the company was doing well, with orders for pork scratchings flying in.