http://www.specialityfoodmagazine.com/site/index.php/site/index/ en admin1@aceville.co.uk Copyright 2010 2010-03-11T15:46:18+00:00 Retailers are invited to ‘choose their mood’ and claim a free bar of organic, therapeutic chocolate from renouned Masterchef Paul Da Costa Greaves.  The founder of Feeding your Imagination is offering readers the chance to sample one of ten concept-driven flavours; sexy, fruity, fantastic, dreamy, beautiful, sensual, gorgeous, mistress, seductive and lovely. Driven by a creative passion for food, the FYI brand has developed a firm following with like-minded delis, farm shops and other fine food outlets. Here's your chance to find out what all the fuss is about: Feeding Your Imagination 2010-03-11T14:46:18+00:00 http://www.specialityfoodmagazine.com/site/index.php/content/news/producer_praised_for_export_achievement/http://www.specialityfoodmagazine.com/site/index.php/content/news/producer_praised_for_export_achievement/#When:15:00:07Z The Hawkshead Relish Company won the Passport to Export Award for Cumbria, at the North West UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) awards ceremony last Wednesday (3rd March). Since opening in 2000, Hawkshead Relish has developed rapidly from selling just six products in the UK, to now exporting over 100 handmade preserves around the world. “This award is wonderful. It recognises our achievements as well as the sheer hard work, investment and determination we have duly needed to attain sales as far away as the Middle East and Taiwan,” said Maria Whitehead, co-owner. “It is also fantastic for the speciality food industry because it assists in identifying the possibilities for community-based businesses, such as regional producers like ourselves,” added Mark Whitehead, co-owner. The awards were aimed at North West companies that had gone through the UKTI Passport to Export programme. The company signed up to the scheme – which is designed to help new or inexperienced exporters boost foreign sales – in 2007. Since 2002, over 1,900 organisations have taken up the programme. News 2010-03-08T15:00:07+00:00 The event, taking place at the NEC in Birmingham, is once again expected to help buyers stay one step ahead of the competition. Innovations for the food and drink retail sector include the following: Start-up company The Big Yum (Stand S140) will launch new Chocolate Swerves, a range of chocolate-covered salted pretzels. Available in 250g sharing bags and smaller 70g snack packs, Chocolate Swerves were inspired by the success of similar products in the US. The Big Yum describes them as “noshable knots wrapped in fine, figure-hugging milk chocolate jackets”. Eazycuizine Fine Foods (Stand R159) will introduce a new selection of premium frozen prepared meals designed to satisfy demand for popular family meals without the hassle of cooking from scratch. The Home Dining range includes dishes such as fish pie, meat lasagne and steak & kidney pie. Available in 1kg pack sizes, Home Dining meals contain no artificial preservatives or other additives. Soft beverages supplier Breckland Orchard (Stand Q141) will unveil two new additions to its recently launched range of 275ml glass-bottled artisan juice drinks. The company, which was established last year by former Mars account director Claire Martinsen, will introduce Strawberry & Rhubarb and Pear & Elderflower variants to a line-up that already includes Blackcurrant & Raspberry, Cloudy Lemonade, Cranberry & Rosehip and Ginger Beer with Chilli. All the drinks are made from a blend of Norfolk spring water and real fruit juice. Cherizena (Stand U208) will launch Sticky Gingerbread flavoured coffee, a new flavour to complement its existing range of 50 premium speciality and flavoured coffees. Created from Columbian coffee infused with sticky gingerbread flavour the coffee has a sweet and spicy aroma and is available as beans or ground and as decaf or regular. The Food & Drink Expo will also offer retail buyers the chance to save money by using the new show discount voucher booklet. This will contain special offers from a range of exhibitors; 10% off an order placed with oat product supplier Stoats Porridge Bars (Stand P130D); 20% off an order placed with seafood supplier Seafare Products (Stand P150G); and a free case of fruit juice with every order placed with Chegworth Valley (Stand U148).* “We may be emerging from the worst recession in decades, but it’s clear that the food and drink industry’s appetite for innovation remains undimmed,” said Jack Halliday, group sales manager for Food & Drink Expo. “Research conducted recently by Food & Drink Expo found that, in spite of the economic downturn, 56% of companies exhibiting at the show would be investing in NPD in the coming year. This is great news for the industry, and great news for visitors to Food & Drink Expo, who will be among the first to see these innovations.” A showcase for the very latest developments in food and drink products, Food & Drink Expo will run simultaneously with seven other shows: Foodex, Baking Industry Exhibition, Convenience Retailing Show, International Forecourt & Fuel Equipment Show, Café+, Off Licence Show and Food & Drink Logistics Show. For information about exhibiting at Food & Drink Expo 2010, contact Jack Halliday, group sales manager. Email: jack.halliday@william-reed.co.uk. Tel: 01293 610352. To register as a visitor, or for general information about the show, click on http://www.foodanddrinkexpo.co.uk. * Varying terms and conditions may apply – so please be sure check with the exhibitor at time of ordering. Food & Drink Expo 2010-03-05T14:47:20+00:00 http://www.specialityfoodmagazine.com/site/index.php/content/hotproducts/balsamic_vinegar_from_modena/http://www.specialityfoodmagazine.com/site/index.php/content/hotproducts/balsamic_vinegar_from_modena/#When:13:17:26Z Bevelynn's balsamic vinegar is made in one of the largest vinegar factories in Italy. The company produces approximately 15,000 bottles an hour to keep up with worldwide demand. However, despite the large scale of the operation, attention to detail remains a top priority – the firm is committed to maintaining the quality of each individual bottle at every stage of the process. Traditionally produced in Modena, balsamic vinegar is one of Italy's signature offerings, and is fast becoming a staple table condiment in the UK. Sweet and sour in flavour, the product is a unique blend of concentrated grape must and wine vinegar that has been left to mature in casks. It is widely used in Mediterranean cooking as a salad dressing or in sauces with meat and fish. More recently it has been used as a complement to ice cream and other desserts.For more information on the company's wide range of Mediterranean products contact Bevelynn T: 020 8805 8558 E: main@bevelynn.co.uk W: http://www.bevelynn.co.uk Hot Products, Hot Products - Featured 2010-03-05T13:17:26+00:00 This is normal for many of you – and I employ five sales people who do the same for us (i.e. drive round the country visiting existing and prospective customers). One of these potential new suppliers said that it didn’t want to come to Henley-on-Thames for a meeting as the company is trying to reduce its carbon footprint. I haven’t heard that one before! Whilst its aims are admirable, it didn’t provoke a great desire in me to do business with the company. I then started to question myself and think how much of our travelling around the UK is necessary? The trouble is that business essentially works because of relationships. You might have the greatest products in the world, but unless you build connections with customers, suppliers and other third parties, you won’t make your millions! This particular company has products that we will probably only use as part of our Christmas catalogue, so as a one-off we will probably go ahead without a meeting. But for the bulk of our business it would be impossible to take on a new company without a face-to-face meeting. Our supplier relationships are all about partnerships and I don’t think this is possible without a face-to-face meeting. Do correct me if I am wrong! But, there are ways of reducing our business miles: we don’t use enough of the technologies that are now available to us – e.g. video conferencing. We are just introducing a weekly 'conference call' for our sales team of six, which will reduce the frequency of physical sales meetings in our office. However, there really is no substitute for meeting and eating together. I’m off to Mexico now for a trade show – oooops! Speciality Bites 2010-03-05T11:37:49+00:00 http://www.specialityfoodmagazine.com/site/index.php/content/hotproducts/choose_chutney/http://www.specialityfoodmagazine.com/site/index.php/content/hotproducts/choose_chutney/#When:11:32:14Z Cottage Delight is promoting four new chutneys to complement its expanding range. The Caramelised Apple Chutney with Mustard and Kentish Cider (containing 40% Bramley apples) has been specially created to accompany cold cuts and pies, but can also be served with cheese. Attention to detail is paramount to the company as all chutneys are hand produced in small batches using open pans. Other new recipes include Hot Butternut Squash Chutney, Spicy Caribbean Chutney and Poppadom Chutney. These are just a selection of the 58 new products launched across the range this year, including dressings, sauces, baked goods and gourmet crisps. For more information please contact Cottage Delight T: 01538 382020 E: sales@cottagedelight.co.uk W: http://www.cottagedelight.co.uk Hot Products, Hot Products - Featured 2010-03-05T11:32:14+00:00 http://www.specialityfoodmagazine.com/site/index.php/content/news/indies_wanted_for_prime_time_tv/http://www.specialityfoodmagazine.com/site/index.php/content/news/indies_wanted_for_prime_time_tv/#When:11:19:01Z The BBC is seeking butchers, bakers and grocers to ‘go back in time’ for a new television series Butchers, bakers, grocers and their families will live and trade their way through 100 years of retail heritage, giving viewers an insight into the history of the food industry. The five chosen participants will relocate to Shepton Mallet, Mendip where each will take over a shop in the town's market square. The families will spend a week running their shop in different eras of British history: the Edwardian period, the 20s, 30s, WW2, the 1960s and the 1970s. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for a family to explore the history of their trade. It’s a chance to celebrate Britain’s rich history of independent trading and to showcase experts in their craft,” said Zara Margham, assistant producer of the show. “Our retailers will have the chance to learn old time skills in their shop, which will be meticulously decorated and fitted out. They’ll need to tempt modern customers with once-fashionable recipes and use traditional methods to create them,” she added. Participants will also have to grapple with the challenges of rationing and other rules and regulations laid down by history. “This is Shepton’s chance to become a major part of a living history experiment, so it's a really exciting opportunity. Hopefully all the extra exposure will really benefit the town,” said Dominique Swain from Mendip District Council. Keen retailers are already showing an interest in the programme. “It sounds like a great idea. We try to create a really rustic, traditional atmosphere in our farm shop, so it would be brilliant to take part in the show and learn more,” said Sarah Strivens, co-owner of Over the Farm Gate in Sussex. The series will be filmed during the summer of 2010 over approximately nine to ten weeks. For more information T: 020 7241 9232 or E: zara.margham@walltowall.co.uk Feature Article 2010-03-05T11:19:01+00:00 http://www.specialityfoodmagazine.com/site/index.php/content/hotproducts/anglo_american_style/http://www.specialityfoodmagazine.com/site/index.php/content/hotproducts/anglo_american_style/#When:11:02:20Z Fresh Eric’s Cake Co handmakes a range of fresh cakes, tarts and puddings, using only free range eggs, premium quality natural vanilla, real chocolate and non-hydrogenated fats. The company's recipes are Anglo-American in style, representing the mixed British/American background of its owners. Its latest creation is its Blueberry Swirl Cheesecake. “It was very hard to find a blueberry compote that met our standards, so we’ve ended up making one from scratch using just fruit, sugar and cornflour,“ says Eric Watkins, owner. Other products in the range include Baked Vanilla Cheesecake, Old Time Banana Bread and Coffee and Walnut Buzz Cake – made with freshly ground espresso. The company currently supplies retailers such as Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and Wholefoods Market, as well as various independent retailers. For more information please contact Fresh Eric’s Cake Co T: 0208 7617318 E: eric@freshericscakes.co.uk W: http://www.freshericscakes.co.uk Hot Products, Hot Products - Featured 2010-03-05T11:02:20+00:00 http://www.specialityfoodmagazine.com/site/index.php/content/hotproducts/healthier_pastries/http://www.specialityfoodmagazine.com/site/index.php/content/hotproducts/healthier_pastries/#When:10:53:58Z Baked goods supplier Mantinga is promoting a new selection of healthier pastries. The Healthy Range includes the Banana, Muesli and Cranberry Spiral, filled with unsweetened banana puree, muesli and cranberries, and the Carrot and Leek Parcel, which is made with 35% wholemeal purple wheat flour. The product contains carrots and leeks, Emmenthal cheese and a light béchamel sauce, with a topping of linseed and sesame seeds. The rest of The Healthy Range is comprised of three different types of croissant; the 100% Wholemeal Spelt Croissant with ground linseed; the Multigrain Croissant packed with pumpkin and sunflower seeds, spelt grain and linseeds, and the honey-filled Honey Croissant. Established in 2004, Mantinga also has partnerships with artisan bakers in Lithuania, France, Germany, Italy, Denmark, Ireland and Canada, offering more than 300 products. For more information please contact Mantinga T: 0845 4504484 E: sales@mantinga.co.uk W: http://www.mantinga.co.uk Hot Products, Hot Products - Featured 2010-03-05T10:53:58+00:00 http://www.specialityfoodmagazine.com/site/index.php/content/hotproducts/dark_choc_dipper/http://www.specialityfoodmagazine.com/site/index.php/content/hotproducts/dark_choc_dipper/#When:10:37:23Z Family-owned artisan producer, Atkins and Potts offers a selection of sweet and savoury sauces and condiments. Based in Newbury, Berkshire, the company cooks in small batches to ensure consistent quality and prides itself on only using natural ingredients. Among the range is the newly launched Dark Chocolate Dipper. Made from the finest quality dark chocolate, the sauce is marketed as a dip for fresh fruit, mini doughnuts, marshmallows and flapjacks. Garson’s Farm Shop in Esher will be be partnering its fresh strawberries with the product this summer. The company also makes four Belgian chocolate spreads for use on croissants, brioche, and cakes; dark, milk and white chocolate, and a centuries-old Central American blend that matches the heat of pasilla chilli with dark chocolate. Other products include a range of chocolate pouring sauces, sucha as dark chocolate and lemon liqueur, and milk chocolate with orange. For more information please contact Atkins & Potts T: 01635 254249 E: info@atkinsandpotts.co.uk, W: http://www.atkinsandpotts.co.uk Hot Products, Hot Products - Featured 2010-03-05T10:37:23+00:00