‘Aldi’s Next Best Thing’ to see Lewisham Chinese restaurant contender on Channel 4 TV series

The owner of a small business which produces Chinese cooking sauces and chilli oils will appear in a TV competition, in which contestants try to land a lucrative contract with supermarket chain Aldi. 

Danni Hong, 35, from Lewisham town centre, will appear on Channel 4’s Aldi’s Next Best Thing on Thursday to promote her wares. 

Danni runs Happy Eating House, which produces small-batch sauces and chilli oils, and was picked from hundreds of applicants competing for a life-changing contract to stock Aldi stores nationwide. 

She set-up the business four years ago and operates alone, selling online and to small grocery stores, having also taken her products to farmers’ markets. She also has a hook-up with Selfridges.

Hosted by Anita Rani, of Countryfile and BBC Radio 4, and Chris Bavin, of Britain’s Best Home Cook and Eat Well for Less, the six-part series sees suppliers compete in categories such as dinners, baked goods, treats and store cupboard essentials. 

Factors such as price, packaging, shopper demand and the ability to scale up are used to whittle down contestants to just two. 

The finalists are then given four weeks to address any feedback, before presenting improved products to the judges, after which a decision is made about which product will appear in more than 970 stores.

Danni, who operates out of her home, said: “I started my business in honour of my grandad. He always taught me that living well starts from the inside out. 

“Being stocked in Aldi would mean I could spread the Happy Eating House love with more people in the UK, and show that Chinese food can be really quick, simple and healthy to eat at home.” 

To find out if Danni made it on to Aldi’s shelves, watch Aldi’s Next Big Thing on Channel 4, every Thursday at 8pm until November 27. 

 Pictured top: Danni Hong (All Pictures: Aldi)