For over 100 years the makers of "Yorkshire's Best Kept Secret", Henderson's Relish has, like so many other long established businesses, operated without a trademark. Thanks to Wake Smith & Tofields, the maker of the famous 'Spicy Yorkshire Sauce' has now registered several trademarks which will protect and enhance the value of this iconic Sheffield brand.
Dr Kenneth Freeman, Chairman and Managing Director of Hendersons (Sheffield) Limited, approached the firm in 2008 as part of an ongoing strategy for developing the company's product range. The company was promptly advised to proceed with the registrations in order to protect the brand and to maintain its strong position as one of the best loved products in the region.
Peter Rawlinson, IP/IT and Communications specialist solicitor and partner at Wake Smith & Tofields advised the Company: "I have been enjoying Henderson's Relish since I was a 'nipper', and even my wife, who hails from Dunoon, cannot make a vegetarian Bolognese without adding a splash of Henderson's Relish. Although it's one of Sheffield's great secrets everyone knows about it and I'm delighted to say that it has been a great pleasure working with Dr Freeman, another of Wake Smith's high profile Sheffield clients.
"Protecting brand names is an important aspect of any business and even more so when economic conditions are more difficult. The registration of a trademark makes it much easier to protect a brand and immediately adds value and enhances a company's worth.
"Our clients' interests always come first but one of our priorities, and it must apply to all businesses in this region, should be to promote the 'Sheffield' name as it is one of the UK's greatest brands and good news stories like Henderson's should be promoted throughout the world."
Dr Freeman said: "We have been longstanding clients of Wake Smith & Tofields and Peter has provided excellent commercial and legal advice throughout this process. This is very good news for Hendersons as the registration of these brands will add value to our company and help with the promotion of the sauce, which is already going from strength to strength."
Henderson's Relish was first manufactured in the late nineteenth century. Originally manufactured at 35 Broad Lane in Sheffield, it is still being made and has been in uninterrupted production within half a mile of the site from where the first bottle was filled. Celebrity fans include Sean Bean, David Blunkett and local music hero Richard Hawley.
