That's Food and Drink

Thursday, 8 December 2022

Nature's Choice Bistro - a Pop-Up Cafe Celebrating Organic foods

A unique pop-up dining and shopping experience is opening up in London this January to celebrate the benefits of organic produce.

The 'Crittery' Acclaimed two-day only bistro features a beautiful menu made in tribute to nature's key workers who play vital and essential roles in our global food system.

The organic menu is being carefully and lovingly crafted around foods that work in harmony with nature and will be served as an instagrammable tasting board.

The bistro and shop will be situated at 46 Great Eastern Street, Shoreditch on Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 January.

The humble earthworm, honey bee and ladybird would call out for natural food with no pesticides or chemicals. If nature had a voice, these are the dishes they'd call for. Fully organic, pesticide free and working closely with nature. Dotted around the Bistro are the 5 Star reviews the food has already achieved including online rave reviews saying 'Snailed it' and 'Great Grub'!

The fully organic tasting experience will include delicious salads, chocolate soils, edible flowers and nectar infused treats. The full menu contains both vegan and non-vegan options.

The pop up was created in celebration of Organic September run by the Organic Trade Board and has been kindly sponsored by Clipper, Kallo, Alter Eco, Whole Earth, Doves Farm, Crazy Jacks, Natracare and Yeo Valley.

For tickets visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/natures-choice-bistro-tickets-412245275717.

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Wednesday, 7 December 2022

Residents asked to report poaching incidents to help salmon and sea trout populations

As salmon and trout population figures reach critical levels, Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is encouraging the public to be aware of illegal poaching activity on Welsh rivers over the coming months, and to report any incidents or knowledge they may have to its incidents team.

Illegal poaching can have a severe and devastating impact on local fish populations, with numbers coming under particular threat during the salmon and trout spawning season, which usually occurs from around November to January.

NRW’s call for support from the public comes in the year that Wales recorded the lowest catches of both salmon and sea trout in 2021, the lowest since consistent records began in 1970s.

Salmon and sea trout (sewin) are both iconic species in Wales, requiring high quality freshwater habitats to thrive and are a key indicator of the environmental quality of river catchments, while also providing important opportunities for healthy and valuable recreation.

With the spawning season now underway, NRW is urging the public to be vigilant and to report any information they may have on illegal poaching to its incidents team.

David Powell, NRW North East Operations Manager, said: “We take all reports of illegal activity that threatens salmon and sea trout populations extremely seriously.

“Poaching tip-offs from the public can be of huge help in helping stabilise local fish populations whilst providing NRW Enforcement Officers with crucial information to bring a halt to such illegal activity.

“At this time of year, keep an eye out for any netting in rivers, signs of poaching such as disturbed banks, dead fish or hidden nets. It is also very important to report any lamping activity seen along the upper reaches of rivers.

“Please also be aware of any suspicious online content you may come across involving individuals selling salmon and sea trout or sharing images through social media accounts.

“We are calling on the public to report any suspicious or illegal activity on our rivers, lakes and reservoirs, by please reporting it to the NRW incident hotline on 0300 065 3000 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

The loss of salmon and trout will impact legitimate fishermen and women and damage the interests of restaurants, hotels and the like.

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Craft Beer Brand Celebrates Supermarket Success With Waitrose Deal for Brand New Lager just in time for Christmas

An exciting and premium craft beer brand is celebrating supermarket success after seeing the latest addition to his range hit the shelves in Waitrose.

Empress Ale's craft beers are already stocked in leading eateries and restaurants across the country but the craft brewery has increased its offering by adding a lager to its range for the first time, with the new creation snapped up by the supermarket chain for sale across the country.

Midlands-based Empress was launched by entrepreneur Surj Virk in 2016 and has since grown into a premium brand whose Pale Ale and IPA are stocked in some of the top hospitality venues across the country, including restaurants owned by top chefs Tom Kerridge and Jason Atherton.

The company has now created a British-produced Pilsner-style Lager, which is gluten-free, organic and vegan and is now available in 273 Waitrose stores in the UK.

Founder and MD Surj said: “Empress is hugely personal to me, it's a British-made beer using old English recipes for inspiration, but also gives a nod to my Indian heritage and some personal tributes to members of my family.

“For me, Empress really is a true modern British brand and we're delighted that our new, unique product, a pilsner-style lager, is being stocked by Waitrose. It doesn't just taste great but is also vegan, organic and gluten-free, making it perfect for the modern beer drinker.”

The new creation adds to an already-successful range from Empress, which was created with the aim of being a unique, easy-drinking premium craft beer range that pairs particularly well with food. Soon after its launch, it was served as a guest beer in the House of Commons Strangers' Bar shortly, and since then has gone on to gain the seal of approval from an array of top chefs, bars and hospitality venues.

Like many food and drink businesses, Empress faced difficult times during the Covid pandemic but has continued to grow year on year, securing investment from Grenville Turner, former CEO of Countrywide PLC and former Zoopla board member, which helped take it onto the next stage and add to the range.

Surj added: “Our aim has always been to create a great-tasting British-made drink that pairs well with foods and stands out from the crowd. We pride ourselves on using the best of available ingredients, sourced as locally as possible, to create a truly British beer.

“The fact Waitrose decided to stock our lager is testament to the great product we've made and we are eager for people to try it. This is the next step on our journey and we can't wait to see what comes next.”

For more information, visit www.empressale.com.

This looks likely to be a good Christmas present for the beer and lager drinkers in your life so our advice? Nip along to Waitrose and get some in! Or visit https://www.waitrose.com.

Tuesday, 6 December 2022

Now that's convenient! Asda to create 10,000 new convenience store jobs

Asda has announced an ambitious plan to create 10,000 new convenience store jobs over the next four years as it accelerates the rollout of its new Asda Express store concept.

Today Asda opened its second Asda Express convenience store and confirmed its plans to open 300 more by the end of 2026, to bring Asda value and its great products to even more customers and local communities all over the UK.

With sales in convenience stores forecast to grow by 13% to over £50bn by 2027, the development of a new Asda store network in this market is a key part of Asda’s long-term growth strategy to become the UK’s second largest supermarket.

Asda is looking to bring the Express concept to customers in convenient neighbourhood and residential settings, especially in areas where there isn't a nearby Asda store. The second Express store to open is part of a residential development in Tottenham Hale, north London, adjacent to the tube and overground railway station.

Each Asda Express store is designed to cater for a broad range of customer requirements and needs, including ‘top up’ shops for essential items like milk and bread, grabbing a spot of lunch on the go, or buying the fresh ingredients to cook a dinner from scratch.

The Asda Express stores will stock around 3,000 products, including a comprehensive range of fresh, ambient and chilled groceries, plus products from Asda’s premium Extra Special range and a broad selection of beers, wines and spirits.

Customers will also enjoy a range of hot and cold ‘food for now’ options from Asda and partner brands such as Leon, plus ‘food for later’ choices like ready meals, pizzas, stir frys and a selection of £10 meal deals for two people. Asda’s ‘toyou’ parcel collection and return services and a rapid delivery service through Uber Eats will also be available in some of the stores.

Mohsin Issa, Asda’s co-owner said: “A key part of our growth strategy is to provide customers with more opportunities to shop at Asda closer to where they live or work. With over three quarters of the UKs population having visited a convenience store in the last 12 months, the potential for growth in this market is really significant. Our ambition is to become the convenience destination of choice by providing shoppers great value and a comprehensive, convenient range of products and services under one roof.”

The target of 300 Asda Express stores by the end of 2026 does not include the convenience stores Asda is acquiring from the Co-op. This deal is currently going through the CMA’s normal competition review process.

www.asda.co.uk