Dragons Den duo tuck into Sweet Mandarin Sauces venture

ENTREPRENEURIAL sisters Lisa and Helen Tse are celebrating after wooing two of TV’s Dragon’s Den investors to back their new Chinese sauces business.

The twins, who own Manchester’s popular Northern Quarter-based restaurant Sweet Mandarin, appeared on Sunday’s show and secured £50,000 from the notoriously hard-to-please millionaire business people Duncan Bannatyne and Hilary Devey.

The investment has bought the Dragons a 40% stake in the sauces business, which the sister want to launch nationwide. Sweet Mandarin Sauces are gluten-free and have no MSG, no artificial colourings and no preservatives.

They have already secured listings for the sauces with Wing Yip – the UK’s largest chain of Chinese supermarkets – and are in negotiations with Preston-based independent grocery chain Booths.

The pair are being advised on the investment by Manchester law firm JMW.

JMW has acted for the Sweet Mandarin restaurant and cookery school over the last year.

Lisa Tse, said: “We launched Sweet Mandarin Sauces because there is a gap in the market and we believe the brand has the potential to be huge and I’m happy to say the Dragons agreed.

“It’s a very exciting time and we’ve called on JMW’s advice throughout the process. We’re entering an entirely new market and have faced a number of key decisions along the way – such as whether to go down a licencing or manufacturing route. JMW’s advice has been invaluable.”

Joy Kinglsey, senior partner at JMW Solicitors, said: “Helen and Lisa are inspirational business people and Sweet Mandarin Sauces is a great example of a recession-busting start-up, backed by drive and talent.

“We weren’t surprised that the ‘Dragons’ took such an interest in the brand and we’re looking forward to playing a role in helping the Tse family meet their ambitions going forward.”

Chef Lisa developed the sauces in response to demand from customers suffering from Coeliac disease, a condition which affects one in 100 people in the UK. Sweet Mandarin Sauces has now been endorsed by leading charity Coeliac UK.

All of the business’ sauces are hand-made on site at Sweet Mandarin, with the team currently producing 1,000 bottles per day.