Taste Direct 2025: Sign up now to sample some of the UK’s best food and drink

Discovering fantastic food and drink products has never been easier, thanks to Speciality Food’s exclusive sampling service, Taste Direct.

The initiative is back, with 10 brilliant, hand-picked products for retailers to sample – all free of charge.

Taste Direct offers independents a simple way to try a selection of the best food and drink artisans and premium makers have to offer, with all samples delivered directly to their store.

All you need to do to claim your free samples is fill in the form here. But hurry, supplies are limited!

The producers we’ve teamed up with this year are offering a vast range of items, from award-winning and distinctive snacks, to refreshing drinks. Whether your customers want to explore the latest trends or indulge in classic flavours, Taste Direct has something for everyone. Sign up to receive your free samples here.

Taste Direct 2025’s Product Samples

Walkers Shortbread – Tasting sample packs

Founded in 1898, Walker’s Shortbread is a family-owned company with a rich heritage that has remained true to Joseph Walker’s original recipes across five generations. Every piece is still proudly crafted on Speyside in the Scottish Highlands, using only the finest all-butter ingredients—no artificial flavourings, colourings, or additives. The newest addition, the 35g Giant Shortbread Finger, is perfect for an indulgent afternoon snack, providing the same beloved flavour in a convenient, larger portion. For something a bit playful, try our all-butter Scottie Dog Shortbread—a delightful gift or treat for any age. And for those who enjoy snacking on the go, Walker’s Shortbread’s sharing bag of mini shortbread fingers is ideal for easy sharing. With Walker’s, every bite brings the taste of Scotland at its finest.

A Little Bit – Three jar sample pack

A Little Bit produces award-winning sauces, dips, dressings and condiments with a little bit of fresh herbs in every jar. They appreciate that life is busy and there’s not always time to whip up a sauce or dressing from scratch, so their aim is to make it easy for their customers to create dishes that taste homemade with that fresh herb flavour but without the hassle. A Little Bit’s range is 100% free from preservatives, entirely gluten-free and suitable for vegans, making it a hit with all the family.

Baboo Gelato – Mixed sample box

Popular Dorset gelato maker Baboo Gelato is expanding outside its West Country home to bring its multi award-winning gelato to independent retailers across the rest of the UK. Baboo Gelato uses real, seasonal ingredients, bought direct from farms and orchards, to produce small batches of great ice cream. Baboo uses no chemical emulsifiers, gum stabilisers, artificial colours or flavours. Baboo has won 42 Great Taste Stars including a coveted 2024 Three Star Award for Double Chocolate Gelato made with Valrhona chocolate. Other very popular flavours include Salted Caramel Gelato, Strawberry Gelato and Sicilian Blood Orange Sorbet. Baboo keeps its offering fresh with a regularly changing range of seasonal and limited edition flavours. Retailers love Baboo’s iconic branding, great point of sale, limited edition flavours, and personal customer support.

Churchill Confectionery - Retail packs

Churchill’s Confectionery is a privately-owned family business founded in 1989 and based in Hertfordshire. It specialises in producing distinctive high-quality products that are very detailed, creatively embossed pieces of artistic design in tin boxes that contain delicious sweets and biscuits. With more than 35 years’ experience in the confectionery business, Churchill’s has grown from a small independent firm into an award-winning global company. Notwithstanding their success on the international sphere, they remain an iconic British brand serving the UK and over 30 countries worldwide. Churchill’s Confectionery is perhaps best known for its delightful souvenir tins, many of which feature London at its most recognisable, but the team has worked hard to expand the company’s product range over recent years to include a fabulous Art Deco collection and Victorian Fun Fair theme.

Delamere Dairy – Retail samples

Delamere’s new flavoured milk duo is based on the brand’s award-winning glass bottle recipe its consumers know and love, in a new 235ml CartoCan™ format – a carton that’s shaped like a can. 100% recyclable, the CartoCan™ offers an alternative pack format to Delamere’s well known glass bottle product, can be stored at ambient temperatures, and is best enjoyed chilled. It offers all the goodness and nutrients of normal milk, is a great source of protein, calcium and vitamin D and is available in Delamere’s two best-selling flavours – Strawberry and Chocolate – with more flavours to follow later in 2025. Appealing to adults and children alike, Delamere’s CartoCan™ duo is ideal for ‘on the go’ sales in independent retail, convenience stores, delis, farm shops, hospitality outlets and many more.

Aagrah Foods – Trio discovery box

With over 45 years of expertise in Indian cuisine, Aagrah Foods brings the vibrant dining experience of its award-winning restaurants to your shelves. From rich Tarka Sauces to aromatic spice blends, chutneys, poppadoms and naans, Aagrah Foods’ range embodies the heritage and bold flavours of Indian cooking. Each product is crafted with recipes perfected by seasoned chefs, ensuring authenticity and exceptional quality. Aagrah is more than just food – it’s a celebration of tradition, ideal for customers seeking artisanal products with a story. Let your customers discover the joy of Indian cuisine, brought to life with care, passion, and decades of expertise.

Cakehead – Sample box

Cakehead has the recipe for more customers! The team hand craft and hand finish award-winning bakes at their cakery based in Oakham, Rutland. They have a real passion for creating irresistible treats, using only the best ingredients – from fine Belgian cocoa to their very own luxurious caramel (made to a secret recipe).
Attention to detail is paramount. The Cakehead team even freshly squeeze their lemons. Another key to success is supporting local suppliers, with as many ingredients as possible being farm fresh. Each bake is beautifully packaged and delivered on time. It’s an all-in commitment to quality cake that they call ‘Beyond Baking’. Cakehead even has a wide range of vegan and gluten-free options, so none of your customers have to miss out. Try a sample box and sample their gorgeous cakes for yourself.

Fairfields Farm – Discovery box

Fairfields Farm not only grows its own potatoes for its delicious thick-cut, skin-on crisps, but also cooks and packs them on-site – helping to make the low food miles nibbles carbon neutral. The brand specialises in making gluten-free and vegan crisps which win awards as well as loyal customers. Its products are perfect for ensuring everyone gets to enjoy a premium version of the nation’s favourite snack, no matter their dietary requirements. Because of its short supply chain and abundant source of potatoes, Fairfields Farm can offer exceptional availability to stockists, and plenty of shelf life. The team is also extraordinarily proud of its sustainability-focused approach to biodiversity in its beautiful corner of the world.

7ate9 -  Sample box

7ate9 brings the essence of Greek gastronomy to your table with products crafted from the finest ingredients and inspired by traditional recipes. Their Sourdough Pita Bread offers a soft, flavorful base, perfect for wraps or dips, while the Corn Pita Bread adds a wholesome twist to any meal.
For a satisfying snack, the Honey Sesame Bars deliver a classic balance of sweetness and crunch. Variations like the Apple & Cinnamon bars bring a warm, fruity touch, while the Pistachio & Cranberry bars offer a sophisticated blend of nutty and tangy flavors. For those craving indulgence, the chocolate bars provide a rich and decadent option. At 7ate9, authenticity meets innovation, ensuring quality and care in every bite.

Foreva Farmers – Sample box

Founded by three generations of farmers on a small farm in Herefordshire, Foreva Farmers is pioneering sustainability in luxury tonics and mixers. Crafted from the finest local ingredients, each of their eight flavours are produced using renewable energy generated on their farm through anaerobic digestion, a world first. This green energy powers the farm’s canning facility and creates the renewable, fossil-fuel-free CO₂ that goes into every drink, making them one of the most sustainable drinks in the UK. Foreva Farmers offers a genuine, and delicious, solution for those looking for a sophisticated drink that can be enjoyed both with or without alcohol. As a result, they have become one of the fastest growing tonics and mixers brands in the UK.

Sign up to Taste Direct now to receive your free samples.