Avanti West Coast is now serving customers on its trains with a traditional Wigan delicacy based on a recipe created by one of its train managers.

The delicacy came about after Avanti West Coast ran a staff baking competition to create a limited-edition product suitable for serving to First Class customers.

The result is a brownie that is based on a recipe by Preston-based Train Manager, Helen May. It celebrates Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls, which is a popular mint-flavoured sweet that is made in Wigan using the same traditional methods as when it was first made in 1898.

As a Wigan resident, Helen wanted to create something local to her, so incorporated the mint balls into her brownie. She spent weeks perfecting her recipe, which was tried and tested by her partner and chief taster, Rory, who is also an Avanti West Coast train manager, and staff at his depot in Manchester, to beat competition from colleagues across the West Coast.

To perfect the recipe for its trains, Avanti, worked with Flintshire bakery The Pudding Compartment, which already supplies cakes and biscuits to the company and Uncle Joe’s to come up with a bespoke bake – Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls Brownie – for its latest seasonal First Class Menu. Helen’s limited-edition brownie can now be enjoyed by customers travelling between London, Scotland, and Holyhead.

Helen May said: “Mint and chocolate go together perfectly, so with the renowned Wigan sweet being local to the West Coast Main Line I thought it was a great idea to use the unique mint taste in my brownie. I’m delighted it was selected as the winning recipe and have loved seeing my bake come to life thanks to the efforts of The Pudding Compartment and Uncle Joe’s.

“I feel so proud my Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls brownie has been made into a product for customers across our route to enjoy and hope they like the taste of the popular traditional sweet.”

Steve West, Managing Director of The Pudding Compartment, said: “Working with Uncle Joe’s to bring Helen’s vision and product into reality was exciting. Many people in North West England are familiar with the taste of Uncle Joe’s so making sure we could capture that flavour while upscaling the winning brownie recipe was a challenge we thoroughly enjoyed.

“To see how appreciative and pleased Helen was with the result made it all worthwhile. We love what we do and it’s fantastic to work with Avanti West Coast who like to champion local produce and flavours. We hope customers along the West Coast enjoy this latest bake.”

Antony Winnard, joint Managing Director of Wm. Santus & Co who make Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls, said: “We are very proud that people up and down the West Coast will get to sample our Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls in Helen’s excellent brownie.

“We’re flattered that as a Wigan resident, she’s chosen to include this Wigan delicacy in her winning bake and I’m sure those travelling on an Avanti West Coast train will love it.

“It tastes great and we are delighted to support The Pudding Compartment, which is another small business on the West Coast route, with a supply of our secret ingredients so they could turn Helen’s bake into something everyone onboard can enjoy.”

Rob Taylor, Food and Beverage Development Lead at Avanti West Coast, said: “Helen’s brownie had something different – a unique flavour of a local sweet – which is one reason why it was selected to be made into a product for customers onboard our trains. By using locally produced confectionery, it’s allowed us to bring together two small businesses who are only hundreds of metres from parts of our route.

“It has been great collaborating with The Pudding Compartment and Uncle Joe’s to replicate Helen’s winning recipe and we hope customers as far as Holyhead, London and Scotland enjoy eating it as much as we’ve enjoyed being involved in its development.”