Bighams – delicious handmade meals for two

Belle

Hi. I’m Belle and I’m the Demand Planner. I make sure that we plan to cook and pack enough of our lovely dishes for our customers. My favourite food is Mexican – having travelled around this amazing country, chillies and chorizo are never far from my side in the kitchen! I love to cook chorizo tacos topped with a handmade salsa or a fresh vibrant cerviche. My favorite Bighams dish is the new Chicken en Croute, a real treat after a long day’s work.

Star Fact

CB’s Most Hopeful Table Football Player

Marina

Hi. I’m Marina and I’m the Specifications Technologist. I make sure that all the paperwork for our dishes is completed on time. I also make sure our customers get all the information on our dishes that they need – from ingredients to cooking instructions. I’m Spanish and I love to cook tortilla de patatas (Spanish omelette) with green pepper and onions. My hands-down-favourite Bigham’s dish is our Breton Chicken.

Star Fact

CB’s top Flamenco dancer

Gina

Hi, I’m Gina and my job at Bigham’s is to look after the retailer's own brand dishes. I get involved in everything from recipe development to managing new launches and tasting lots of the delicious food we make to make sure my customers are getting fresh, top quality food every day. I love Monday mornings here as they are always full of excited chit chat amongst the team about recipe highs and lows from the weekend and new restaurant recommendations.

Star Fact

Bigham’s crisp connoisseur

Michael

Hi. I’m Michael and I’m the Production Manager. I manage our kitchens and make sure that all the food we make is of the highest standard. I love to cook all kinds of food, from a roast lamb to a paella. I also like to make my own bread! My favourite Charlie Bigham’s dish has got to be our Fish Pie - yum!

Star Fact

Bigham’s Rugby League fanatic!

Marcin

My name’s Marcin and I’m the Shift Manager at Bigham’s. I help look after all of our kitchens and make sure that all of our dishes are the very best quality. I love working here because every day is different and challenging. My favourite Bigham’s dish is our Chicken Kiev and I like to cook (and eat!) all kinds of traditional Polish food

Star Fact

Bigham’s number one FC Barcelona fan!

Bilal

Hi. I’m Bilal and I am the Supply Chain Planner. My job is to make sure that we make the right amount of delicious Charlie Bigham’s dishes each day. I also make sure that we deliver them to our friends at Waitrose, Ocado and Sainsbury’s on time so that we can get them onto your dining table! My favourite Charlie Bigham’s dish is our very tasty Fish Pie.

Star Fact

Bigham’s top cricketer.

Meraia

Hi. My name is Meraia and I’m the Packing Manager. I look after the team that packs all of the lovely food we have made. I love working at Bigham’s because of the diversity of the people I get to work with and because all the dishes we make are so delicious! I am from the Fiji Islands and I love to eat fish and seafood.

Star Fact

The person from the furthest country from Bigham's as Fiji is directly on the other side of the world from the UK.

Paulina

Hi. My name is Paulina and I look after reception. I make sure you’ll be met with the warmest welcome here at Charlie Bigham’s. I am also responsible for processing orders from our lovely restaurant customers and making sure they always receive what they need. I love all kinds of dishes but my favourite meal is my mum’s Hungarian beef goulash with potato dumplings  - she is the best cook ever!

Star Fact

CB’s the best bowling player on Wii

Curt

I'm the planning manager, so I make sure that your local store always has your favourite Bigham’s dish on shelf. Being an all-American Southern boy my favourite food has to be BBQ. Bring on the ribs!!!
My wife runs a catering company, so we talk and taste food all the time!

Star Fact

The team's fastest cyclist (on my scooter)

Ghulam

Hi, I am Ghulam. They say all relationships require a little give and take and my work is just like this, as I am the Finance Manager here at Bigham's. I keep track of all the money that comes in and goes out to help us make this delicious food every day for our customers. My favourite restaurant is Imbat Terrace in Istanbul. They not only sell the best grilled Lufer fish in the world, but you can also enjoy a panoramic view of Bosphorus, Topkapi Palace and Aya Sophia.

Star Fact

CB’s Chess Master

Khadija

I am Khadija and I am responsible for ensuring that all suppliers are paid on time so we are in daily supply of all our fresh ingredients. I am a native from the Caribbean Island of Grenada or better known as the Isle of Spice! I have always been exposed to many different spices and I love cooking. My favourite dish is a local grenedian dish called 'oil down'. Yummy!

Star Fact

Charlie Bigham's Shotokan Karate Champ

Zoran

Hi, I’m Zoran and I am the chef manager for Charlie Bigham’s. I oversee all the cooked dishes ranging from stocks and béchamel to ragu or Steak and Ale filling. Each one made the way it should be. I have 22years experience in food and I am very proud to now be part of the Charlie Bigham’s family.My favourite restaurant has to be Cibo as it is the renaissance of a true Italian kitchen.

Alecia

Hi my name is Alecia and I am the Process Manager. My role is to ensure that our dishes look the same each and every day. My job allows me to be creative and scientific at the same time. I am a fan of all lamb dishes, particularly a leg of lamb. It is fool proof and a crowd pleaser!

Star Fact

CB's DIY Queen

Wenny

Hi, I 'm Wenny and I am part of the New Food Development Team and source new and exciting ingredients and packaging. I make sure our recipes are ready to roll out to the production kitchen when products are launching. My favourite dish to make has to be the rich chocolate tart from my Leiths Bible – it has 16 egg yolks in it!

Star Fact

CB's Surfer Chick

Tom A

Hi, I'm Tom and I work in the technical team. I help make sure all Charlie Bigham's dishes are made to the required food safety standards as well as making certain we meet all the legal and customer requirements. I love my job because no two days are ever the same! As far as favourite dishes goes,  I love a simple prawn stir fry with fresh chillis, ginger, garlic and szechuan pepper. Better still if it's made with veggies from my grandfather's winning Surrey Heath allotment!

Star Fact

CB's Canoe-ing Champion

Helen C

Hi, my name's Helen and it's my role to recruit and look after everyone who work's at Charlie Bigham's. My favourite dish to cook is Irish baked ham, cabbage and parsley sauce.  It transports me straight back to my childhood!

Star Fact

CB's Queen tomato grower

Kim

My name's Kim and I am in charge of food safety here at Charlie Bigham's. I make sure that each and every dish that leaves the building is safe and of the highest quality. I really enjoy cooking, particularly Southeast Asian dishes. My favourite has to be ginger chicken, which takes me straight back to my childhood!

Star Fact

CB's only Irish folk dancer

Helen V

My name's Helen and as new food development manager I'm in charge of finding new and exciting dishes for us to launch. This means I get to work with our fantastic chefs and do lots of lovely tastings. I have travelled through a lot of Africa, hitch hiking, gorilla watching and trying lots of different food. My favourite restaurant has to be Carnivores in Kenya; a fantastic range of meat all carved fresh from the skewers at your table!

Star Fact

CB's biggest football fan

Guy

I'm Guy, the commercial director, and it's my job to keep our customers and our sales team happy. We like nothing more than talking about food at work, whether it's sharing a brilliant recipe, or having a seed growing competition in the office. My favourite dish to cook has to be the wonderful barbecued Morrocan lamb, méchoui. It's spicy, aromatic and truly delicious.

Star Fact

CB's best runner and runner bean farmer

Saira

I'm Saira and I help find lovely people to come and work in our kitchens. Passion, pride with an eye for quality are essential! I love to make cakes and all things sweet!

Star Fact

CB's heathiest (hot water and lemon is a great way to start the day!)

Tom

Hi, I'm Tom and I am the CEO. Essentially my job to keep Charlie happy! I make sure all the numbers are right so that we have a sustainable brand that will be around for years to come. I am extremely partial to all the delicious food Italy has to offer. I am not only an Italian pasta eating champion but I have also been lucky enought to meet Antonio Carluccio!

Star Fact

CB's Chief pasta eater

Amardeep

My name is Amardeep and I work in the finance team. It's my job to collect the money from all of our customers; essential for allowing us to continue making all our dishes! My top cooking tip is never to leave half an onion in your fridge, it absorbs all the bacteria!

Star Fact

CB's only vegetable flower carver

Boris

I'm Boris, the operations director. I love our food and it's my job to make sure that each and every dish leaves the site on time every day – so that none of our customers are disappointed. I am obsessed with quality! Being from France, I have always been surrounded by outstanding ingredients, dishes and restaurants. I am even known for re-introducing the delicious snails from Bourgogne into the UK. Be daring and try one!

Star Fact

CB's most daring adventurer

Amit

My name's Amit and I'm in charge of buying all the fresh ingredients we need for each day so our team of chefs can create all their great dishes. I love managing and being responsible for all the fantastic vegetables we use. My favourite type of restaurant is an Indian dhaba, lots of vegetarian food and a great atmosphere!

Star Fact

CB's Jim'll fix it

Craig

Hi, I’m Craig I’m the Engineering and Health & Safety Manager for Bigham’s. I make sure that all kitchen equipment and the buildings are kept in tip top condition as well as keeping everyone working at Charlie Bigham’s healthy and safe. I like trying out new dishes at home with my children and my signature dish has to be a nice chicken madras with fresh herbs and spices

Star Fact

CB'S keenist camper

Aline

Hi, I'm Aline and I work alongside the New Food Development Manager to assist on the development of new recipes. I make sure all recipes we launch are reviewed and our high standard are maintained. I have been surrounded by fabulous food all my life as my father is a chef in Brazil, he even has his own TV show. A typical Brazilian dish is 'açaí na tigela' (açaí in the bowl) which is frozen, mashed açaí palm fruit from the Amazonian region but my favourite food has to be anything from Italy! Give me pasta dishes, cheeses and wine and I am in heaven!

Star Fact

CB's smile-iest

Nicola

Hi, I'm Nicola and I look after some of our lovely customers as well as getting to work with our chefs –  discussing recipes and tasting lots and lots of our delicious food. My job has allowed me to enjoy some fantastic foodie moments. Two of my favourites were meeting Fergus Henderson from St John restaurant and learning all about organic farming at Sheep Drove farm.

Star Fact

CB's best baker (Nicola makes a mean English apple cake!)

George

Hi, I'm George and I get to help draw up our adverts and look after our supermarket friends making sure they have our products fresh every day. I love fresh food and grow lots of my own veggies. There's nothing better than eating new potatoes straight from the garden after an 18mile cycle commute back home!

Star Fact

CB's coleslaw king

Simon Spilsbury

Illustrator

I spend my time observing and drawing the minutiae of life, mostly in a humourous way. For the last 18 years I've been working for all those magazines you read on the train, most of the national newspapers and TV. Characters always appear in my work and Peter and Emily are welcome newcomers to the family.

Star Fact

I can draw at the same time as eating one of Charlie's pies