Bottesford's Simply Crackers creates socially-distanced cracker for corona-hit Christmas

A cracker manufacturer has developed a novel socially-distanced cracker to help families maintain covid-19 guidelines this Christmas.

Simply Crackers, based in Longhedge Lane, Bottesford, came up with the idea after hearing from a young boy who was sad that he would not be able to sit with his grandparents this Christmas but wanted to keep one tradition going.

Managing director Geine Pressendo, who took over the company in 2010 with husband, Tony, knew that it was something that they needed to create.

She said: “I was talking to my friend about what Christmas would be like this year.

“It was all sounding quite gloomy with the prospect of not being able to see family and children unable to hug and kiss their grandparents, when her young son suddenly piped up and suggested that we make a long cracker so one tradition could still continue at least.”

Thrilled with the idea, Geine and Tony spent the next few weeks coming up with different prototypes before settling on their final design for the 90cm socially-distanced cracker.

Geine said: “We’ve already sold quite a few of them.”

Each cracker costs £10 or £15 for customers who would like it filled with small gifts.

Simply Crackers was set up in 1982 by Heather Wheatley, who enjoyed making craft products in her spare time. It grew from a home-based start-up to a major organisation working with a wide range of international brands, including Mulberry, Centre Parcs, Burberry, Carluccios, Heineken and the BBC, providing a wide range of bespoke crackers to sell or give to customers, employees and stakeholders for festive celebrations.

Since Geine took it over in 2010, the company has now expanded its portfolio to new markets, including customised wedding crackers and branded Christmas crackers for corporate events, manufacturing all of its products from its warehouse in Bottesford.

Geine said: “We were concerned about the impact that covid-19 would have on business but, fortunately, all of our regular orders have still come in.

“However, the bulk of our orders is in events so with the majority of them cancelled this year we had to improvise and come up with other ways to boost income, the socially-distanced cracker being one of them.

“We have also received quite a few orders this year from corporate companies who have asked for crackers to be delivered to each of their employees’ homes.

This way they don’t miss out and can all come together for a Christmas party on Zoom.”