Hayley Elston of The Fabulous Catch Company in Calshot to appear on Channel 4 show Aldi’s Next Big Thing

A NEW Forest gourmet fishcake producer is set for a TV battle to compete for a spot on supermarket shelves.

Calshot-based Hayley Elston, of The Fabulous Catch Company will appear on Channel 4 show Aldi’s Next Big Thing on Tuesday.

She was picked from hundreds of applicants competing for the chance to win a contract to stock the chain’s stores nationwide.

Hosted by broadcaster and author Anita Rani and Chris Bavin, of BBC’s The One Show and Eat Well for Less, the six-part series will see food-and-drink producers judged on taste, price, packaging, shopper demand and the ability to scale up.

The Fabulous Catch Company has been a popular pop-up at food festivals and farmers’ markets across the south, and last year Hayley launched an online store.

The company combines 100% sustainably-caught fish with non-traditional flavours to create award-winning and trend-setting fishcakes that have secured Great Taste Awards and a number of other accolades.

“We have worked so hard to get this product where it is today,” said Hayley. “We started making crabcakes because there was an abundance of brown crab meat on the Isle of Wight.

“It is often overlooked, but this is where the flavour is – it tastes fabulous.”

Hayley started out in 2012 when she began making her now legendary fish finger sandwich for Camp Bestival on the Isle of Wight. The Fabulous Fishy Fingers were made entirely from the catch of the Yarmouth Fishermen’s Association – now the Needles Fishermen’s Co-op.

Such was the success of the fish fingers that Catch began hand-making other unique fish delicacies for the retail and restaurant trade, including gourmet fishcakes, crab cakes and crab bisque.

“We are passionate about supporting our declining fishing industry and doing our bit to protect diminishing fish stocks,” continued Hayley.

“Our mission is to provide our customers with excellent food whilst supporting local fish markets.

“We buy from local growers and other artisan food producers to make a fabulous range of ready-to-eat products that combine traditional flavours and modern tastes.”

A number of Catch’s products have been guided by the expertise of three-times Michelin-starred chef and Milford resident Herbert Berger, who is also an investor in the company.

Herbert’s mantra is to “do things properly without cutting corners”, and he provides enviable tuition to the Catch team on techniques and natural flavour combinations, uniting ingredients to create unique gourmet products that are true taste sensations.

Aldi says the competition is part of its “ongoing commitment to support British suppliers”.

Last year, the chain spent an additional £1.3b with British suppliers and growers, who now provide more than three-quarters of all items sold in its stores.

Hayley will appear on Aldi’s Next Big Thing on Channel 4, Tuesday 2nd April, at 8pm.