Here's A Chocolate Bar Fit for The King!

With the King’s Coronation set to be the event of the year, the clever chocolate-addicts at FATSO have created King’s Ransom, a chocolate bar that is as delicious as it is absolutely regal, enrobing the majesty of whole pistachios, crunchy cocoa nibs and with a hint of mint. It’s a Right. Royal. Rhapsody!

FATSO launched in spring of 2022 delivering personality-packed bars of delicious dark chocolate that go against the grain by offering the best high-quality ingredients packed with big flavour combinations and massive chunks, besides.

And of course, the new King’s Ransom flavour is no different, delivering minty-fresh flavours laced with whole pistachios and crunchy cocoa nibs, all set in the finest Colombian dark chocolate (60% cacao). King’s Ransom is aiming to hit the shelves with royal flair this spring as FATSO continues to set the record straight that dark chocolate can have just as much fun as milk with epic, uncompromising deliciousness. 

But even beyond the cacao and chocolate itself, FATSO is embracing the best and most audacious ingredients that break category conventions but retains (and exceeds) consumer expectations for high quality, ethical chocolate. 

All of the bars are packaged in a 100% recyclable box with vegetable-based ink print and a home compostable flow wrap inside, fulfilling FATSO’s motto of MORE CHUNK, MORE FLAVOUR, MORE ETHICS, MORE LOVE, MORE CARE…because MORE MATTERS.  

King’s Ransom, like all of FATSO’s bars, is made with true single-origin, Fino de Aroma certified cacao from family-owned Luker’s Farm in Columbia where ethics, sustainability and quality are at the heart of their business. 

The new King’s Ransom bar is vegan-friendly and will sit alongside FATSO’s three great-tasting flavours, all with their own distinct personalities; Morn’n Glory, Home Run and Nan’s stash. FATSO’s new flavoured dark chocolate bar, King’s Ransom, is available nationwide or visit www.sofatso.com to buy online (RRP £6.50 per 150g bar).

Sainsbury’s is now trayless with its whole chickens, saving over 10 million pieces of plastic a year

Sainsbury’s has announced that its by Sainsbury’s whole chicken range is now totally trayless, after the retailer removed single-use plastic trays from its packaging. Using a minimum of 50% less plastic, the change is estimated to save some 140 tonnes of plastic annually.

The trayless products are available in all stores across the UK and online, helping to reduce the amount of single-use plastic customers have to dispose of at home. The change affects five products in total, including all by Sainsbury’s whole chickens ranging from extra small to extra-large sizes.

Also, the film packaging can still be recycled at one of Sainsbury’s front-of-store flexible plastics recycling points (available at all Sainsbury’s UK supermarkets).

The move is the latest in a string of plastic reductions as part of the retailer’s ongoing commitment to halve its use of own brand plastic packaging by 2025. Last month, the retailer removed single-use plastic lids from its own brand dip pots, including household favourites including guacamole, tzatziki and sour cream and chive dip.

As part of its wider sustainability commitments, Sainsbury’s is also dedicated to protecting animal welfare across its supply chains. In March, Sainsbury’s made improvements to its chicken welfare standards, by moving all its fresh and frozen own brand by Sainsbury’s chicken to a lower stocking density. The move means its chickens now have 20% more space than the Red Tractor UK industry standard.

The retailer has also introduced more enrichment bales, pecking objects and platforms for perching, giving its chickens the freedom to express their natural behaviours, helping them live happier and healthier lives.

Tesco launches collaborative ready meal tray-to-tray initiative with Faerch Group

In what's believed to be a first in the industry, Tesco has started to recycle used plastic food trays back into packaging - creating a fully circular packaging solution for its entire range of core chilled ready meals.

The change is in collaboration with leading packaging manufacturer Faerch and will see customer-recovered PET trays, which are collected via kerbside waste, recycled and converted back into food grade plastic trays.

Tesco’s ready meal trays already contain up to 75% of recycled content, mainly from cleaner and easier to recycle bottle flake plastic. Through the new Tray 2 Tray by Faerch™ programme, a minimum of 30% recycled tray content will be included in the new core chilled ready meals trays.

A phased rollout of the new trays will take place this month (April) across Tesco’s core own brand chilled ready meals. The collaboration will ensure high quality food-grade PET is kept within the supply chain, rather than being downcycled, and demonstrates PET packaging from trays can be fully recovered and recycled at an industrial scale.

Adele Kearns, Packaging Development Manager at Tesco, said: “We're absolutely determined to close the loop on our packaging, for it to be fully recyclable and contain recycled content wherever this is possible. 

"We remain committed to reducing our environmental impact, and helping our customers do the same, as we work together to protect our planet.”

Ruth Price, Strategic Sales Manager at Faerch UK, said: “We’re delighted to launch our Tray 2 Tray by Faerch™ programme with Tesco, an essential initiative that promotes circular food packaging in the economy, and we are committed to working with our customers to keep rigid food packaging in the economy and out of the environment. 

"Our collaboration with Tesco is the perfect example of how material from EU waste resources can be diverted into a valuable commodity. Moving forward, our intention is to not only increase the level of tray-to-tray content but to also start taking this from local UK feedstocks”.

Tesco also works alongside suppliers to drive change across products – eliminating all hard-to-recycle material from UK packaging in 2019 - and supports industry action including the UK Plastics Pact, which tackles the impact of plastic waste.

• Lines that have changed or will change over the coming weeks are:

o SPINACH & RICOTTA CANNELLONI 400G

o TOMATO & MOZZARELLA PENNE 400G

o SPAGHETTI & MEATBALL 400G

o TUNA BAKE 400G

o BEEF LASAGNE 400G

o VEGETABLE LASAGNE 400G

o SPAGHETTI BOLOGNESE 400G

o SPAGHETTI CARBONARA 400G

o HAM & MUSHROOM TAG 400G

o CHICKEN ARRAB 400G

o PEPPERONI PASTA BAKE 400G

o ITALIAN CHICKEN & BACON PASTA BAKE 400G

o MACARONI CHEESE 400G

o CHICKEN & CHORIZO PASTA 400G

o PESTO PASTA 400G

o LENTIL BAKE 400G

o ITALIAN CHICKEN & BACON PASTA BAKE 750G

o BEEF LASAGNE 750G

o MACARONI CHEESE 750g

o THREE CHEESE MELT 750G

o PEPPERONI PASTA 750G

o BEEF LASAGNE 1.5KG

o CHICKEN, TOMATO & MOZZARELLA 1.5KG

o CARBONARA PASTA BAKE 1.5KG

o BEEF LASAGNE 1.5KG

o CHICKEN, TOMATO & MOZZARELLA 1.5KG

o CARBONARA PASTA BAKE 1.5KG

You can learn about Faerch here https://www.faerch.com/en

Tesco to go peat-free on UK-grown bedding plants and compost in major carbon-saving move

Tesco has become the first UK retailer to go peat-free on its British-grown bedding plants, in order to significantly lower their carbon footprint. 

From earlier this year the supermarket started selling only compost that is also completely peat-free. Ideal for those of us who like to grow our own food.

Peat is still the most popular aid used by the horticulture industry to grow potting plants but when harvested, vast quantities of carbon are released into the atmosphere, accelerating climate change.   

The ground-breaking step has been made in partnership with one of the UK’s leading ornamental plant suppliers, Bridge Farm Horticulture, based in Spalding, Lincolnshire.  

It will also help preserve the UK’s and Republic of Ireland’s peatlands, which provide a wealth of environmental benefits as well as being home to many rare plants, insects and birds.   

The move is significant as Tesco is one of the UK’s largest sellers of bedding plants, with about 40 million plants sold each year.   

Through this change, Tesco has reduced its peat use by nearly 9,000 cubic metres a year. This has reduced the carbon footprint of these products by more than 1,200 tonnes of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent emissions) a year – a reduction of 75%.   

Tesco Horticulture Category Buying Manager, Alex Edwards said: “Going peat free on our British-grown bedding plants is right for our customers - we've listened to their feedback and have worked hard to prove we can deliver the same great quality, but now being better for our planet.  

“Looking ahead, we hope this approach can be adopted on a wider-scale – it’s our aim to deliver this across a broader range of plants and flowers.”

In April 2022, Tesco made the decision to remove peat from the compost it uses in its British grown bedding plant range. 

At the time a viable alternative for peat wasn’t available for young plant propagation, which meant that a maximum of five per cent peat remained in the compost formulation. 

This alternative has now been found and so instead of peat, all bedding plants, grown by the Bridge Farm Horticulture, on behalf of Tesco will use alternatives such as wood fibre** and natural by-products to deliver the quality expected. 

Tesco’s range of products supplied by the Bridge Farm Horticulture have all been successfully trialled in peat-free compost, with no impact on quality or product life.   

Bridge Farm Horticulture Managing Director Louise Motala said: “We felt as strongly as Tesco that it was an important step to remove all peat from our compost formulations.

“To enable us to do so we begun propagating the majority of our seed and cutting young plants ourselves.

“This investment in our facility and capabilities has not only helped us to deliver on this commitment, it has also given us greater flexibility and control of the whole supply chain.” 

Plant Health Minister, Trudy Harrison welcomed the move and said: “Our peatlands are an incredibly valuable natural resource. They play a crucial role in locking up carbon, providing habitats for wildlife and helping with flood mitigation. 

“Tesco’s achievement demonstrates the viability of  effective peat-free alternatives and marks an another important stride in reducing our nation’s peat use.  

“I am confident this move  will encourage other retailers to follow their forward thinking example, as we move towards the complete ban for selling peat to amateur gardeners which comes into force in 2024.”

First ‘Jempson’s ‘Together with Morrisons’ will launch this Spring

Morrisons is partnering with independent retailer Jempsons to launch six brand new stores under its ‘Together with Morrisons’ brand.

The first 35,000sq ft store will open in Peasmarsh, East Sussex this Spring and five more will follow in due course.  

The ‘Together with Morrisons’ proposition is designed for independent store owners with established local brands and larger stores. The first “Together with Morrisons” store opened in May 2022, in Upton in the Cotswolds in partnership with Warner’s.  

Partners in the ‘Together with Morrisons’ fascia are focussed on championing local produce and  their relationships with local suppliers to source those items directly.  

Morrisons then enables the retailer to offer a greater breadth of products to their customers via a mix of its own brand range and branded products.  

Besides the ‘Together with Morrisons’ model, the number of independent retailers opening up ‘Morrisons Daily’ stores continues to grow thanks to the strength of the Morrisons brand as well as retailer focussed benefits such as no delivery fees or charges. 

Paul Dobson, Sales Director - Franchise & Wholesale Supply at Morrisons, said: "The 'Together with Morrisons' proposition is specially designed for independent store owners with established local brands and larger stores.  

"Jempson's has all of those qualities and so we're delighted to be opening six stores in partnership with them. The new stores will offer customers a mixture of Morrisons own branded products and branded favourites alongside local produce from local suppliers."

Stephen Jempson, MD of Jempson’s, said: “I’m really excited to be partnering with Morrisons and opening the first of six ‘Together with Morrisons’ stores in Peasmarsh later this year.  The new store will enable Jempson’s to continue championing local produce and local artisan suppliers whilst also ensuring our customers have access to a wider breadth of products more akin to the larger supermarkets which we operate. 

I would like to place on record our thanks to all at Nisa for their help and support during our time working together.”

Any independent retailers who would like to become a Morrisons franchise or wish to hear more about Morrisons Wholesale opportunities should contact convenience@morrisonsplc.co.uk.  

Pro Plus® Ultra

To help us gear up for Spring, Pro Plus® Ultra is an amazing development as it contains a truly unique blend of vitamins and adaptogens to help enhance focus and sustain energy.

 As soon as the sun comes out our diaries seem to become jam-packed with plans, which sometimes leaves us a bit overwhelmed with little or even no time time to re-energise after a long week of working.

What can be done to address this issue? Pro Plus® Ultra can give us a gentle helping hand with slow-release caffeine for a controlled, longer-lasting energy boost, plus vitamins B6 and B12, and adaptogens ginseng, guarana and ashwagandha which help to support cognitive function and regulate stress.

To learn more visit https://www.proplus.co.uk/proplus-ultra.

Pro Plus® Ultra’s unique blend of ingredients includes:

Slow-Release Caffeine – Provides sustained release of caffeine throughout the day, without unwanted and irritating highs and lows.

Ashwagandha – A plant-based adaptogen which may help balance the mind and body, helping you to feel more energetic.

Vitamins B6 & B12 – Contribute to a reduction in tiredness and fatigue.

Ginseng – Supports normal cognitive function.

Guarana – Provides a natural source of caffeine.

Be the smartest person in the room thanks to Pro Plus® Ultra. Retails for £7.27 and available to purchase from Amazon. For more information, visit our website www.proplus.co.uk

Please note, food supplements are a nifty addition to a varied diet and a healthy lifestyle, not a replacement.

Top Swedish vitamin success story opens new chapter in UK and Ireland

The Swedish success story Vitamin Well launches in the UK and Ireland with four distinct great-tasting flavours, all non-carbonated, low-calorie, and enriched with versatile combinations of vitamins and minerals. The beverage comes in bottles made of 100% recycled plastics.

Vitamin Well was developed in Sweden to be a modern, healthier, and tasty alternative to sodas, juices, and other sugary drinks. The non-carbonated, low-calorie beverage comes fortified with a wide range of carefully selected vitamins and minerals, has less sugar than many other popular drinks and is preservative-free. All Vitamin Well bottles are made from 100 percent recycled plastics and are recognised by their minimalistic Scandinavian design.

When the first bottles were introduced in Sweden in 2008, it quickly became clear that Vitamin Well would become popular with conscious consumers as well as anyone looking for a refreshing drink with great taste. Today, Vitamin Well is the clear market leader in Sweden and has also become a consumer favourite in many other European markets. It’s now launching in the UK and Ireland with four flavours; Elevate, Hydrate, Recover and Reload.

“Vitamin Well will clearly fill a gap in the UK and Irish markets, satisfying the increasing consumer demand for healthier alternatives. It’s already a proven success throughout Europe, including the Nordic countries, Germany, Switzerland and many more. In short, we are so excited to finally launch in the UK as well.” says Amy Banerjee, Head of Marketing at Vitamin Well UK & Ireland.

www.vitaminwell.co.uk.

www.instagram.com/vitaminwell_uk

Flybox Raises £1.8M in First 2 Years to Build World-First End-to-End Insect Farm, Democratising Insect Farming Globally

Flybox, a UK-based agri-tech company, proudly announces the commencement of the world’s first end-to-end modular insect farm this March in Aylesbury. 

This follows a successful funding round which increased Flybox financing to £1.8m, including over £1m in grants from Innovate UK and the European Union.

 Flybox’s groundbreaking modular technology will unlock the tremendous benefits of insect farming for the entire food supply chain, by directly deploying their tech solution where waste is produced, or feed is needed.

We are projected to be 60 Million Tonnes short of Protein by 2030. Demand for Animal Feed is expected to Double by 2050. Climate extremes, economic shocks and soaring food & fertiliser prices reap chaos for food producers around the globe.

The Flybox Grow®, their first market-ready insect farming unit, is an off the shelf modular solution that transforms organic waste into insect-protein for animal feed, and Frass for fertiliser. It unlocks circular waste management for food producers, retailers and farmers on a global scale. It provides a top quality source of feed and enrichment for farmers on their own land. 

The average large supermarket, farmer or food producer could take 20+ Flybox Grow containers per site, which could upcycle up to 6,500t of waste per year and save 6,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year per site—equivalent to the emissions of 1,200 people in the UK.

Flybox is now building a demonstrator of the world's first end-to-end modular insect-farm in Aylesbury, UK. Focussing on affordability and adaptability the modular insect farm will enable any player in the food industry to purchase Black Soldier Fly breeding, nursery, growing, waste management and product processing solutions separately or combined into a fully functioning and made-to-order, ready-to-go insect farm. Once ordered the farm is constructed locally and delivered to their chosen site(s). The animal feed (£450bn) and fertiliser (£250bn) market is a prime target for innovative solutions like Flybox.

“Flybox aims to ease access to insect-farming technology, moving away from the era of exclusively centralised insect-farming facilities”, says CEO Andrea Jagodic. “Now is the time for the industry to open up and offer solutions directly to waste producers and food producers—including the developing world.”

While Europe has advanced waste usage systems like biogas production and composting, Sub-Saharan Africa lags behind, with Kenya alone generating 14,000 tonnes of consumer food waste daily. With Flybox, governments in developing countries can finally modernise high-priority food waste policies whilst simultaneously reaping environmental, social and economic rewards.

‘As many as 828 million people are unsure of where their next meal is coming from. We have a choice: act now to save lives and invest in solutions that secure food security stability and peace for all, or see people around the world facing rising hunger.’ - The World Food Programme

Flybox’s big unlock comes off the back of a hyper successful run of projects in Kenya and the UK in partnership with local companies, NGOs and government. By unlocking insect-tech solutions for food producers, retailers and farmers everywhere, Flybox is poised to play a significant role in accelerating the global transition to circular agriculture.

Join our Live-Virtual Media Briefing on May 17 with Andrea, Larry (Flybox), and distinguished global experts to discuss insect-farming's role in sustainable food production and how Flybox tech addresses global environmental, social, and economic problems on a global scale.

Pet Food Company, Webbox, ships thousands of meals to help pets in Ukraine

The UK’s popular and quickest-growing pet food brand, Webbox, has pledged its backing and support to pets who are impacted by the crisis in Ukraine by sending over thousands of meals. 

Webbox is working with heroic charity, Breaking the Chains, who continue to operate in Ukraine’s most dangerous areas – areas that no other organisation can get to – to rescue animals, deliver supplies and ensure those left behind are not forgotten.

With a pet population of over 7 million cats and 5 million dogs in Ukraine, there is a real need for support in terms of food, and equipment for those pets that have been left behind when their owners have either sadly been killed or had to flee their homes. The UK pet industry has come together to pledge food and financial aid since the war began but this crisis is not going away.

Says Webbox CEO, Tony Raeburn: “At this year’s People’s Pet Awards, we were lucky enough to meet Tom, a brave soldier who risked his life to rescue pets from the Ukraine battlefield. We reached out to Tom to see how we could support his charity, Breaking the Chains, where he explained that they were in desperate need of pet food.

As a company extremely passionate about pets, we jumped at the chance to help! Our truck of food has now arrived in Ukraine with much-needed supplies to enable Tom and his team to provide support to pets fleeing the Ukraine conflict.”

https://www.webbox.co.uk/

Vitawell Products

Vitawell is a top selling and trusted UK vitamins and food supplements brand, which provides high quality ingredients in a range of formats and flavours for the whole family.

These include some fantastic gummy products which my wife finds specially useful for her requirements. Not everyone can easily swallow tablets or capsules and she finds gummy vitamins and supplements especially helpful.

What's available?

Adult Chewable Multivitamin Tablets (Orange), Adult Chewable Multivitamin Tablets (Raspberry & Strawberry), Adult High Strength Vit D Gummies Blackcurrant, Adult Multivitamin Gummies Raspberry, Calcium + Vit D 120’s, Glucosamine + Vit C 90’s, Omega 3 1000mg 60’s, CLO (Cod Liver Oil), 500mg 120’s, Energy effervescents, Vegan B12 Gummies 60’s, Vegan B12 Chewable 60’s, Turmeric & Black Pepper 60’s, Vitawell Beauty Shine & Glow Capsules, Vitawell Hair Lush Locks Capsules, Vitawell Collagen Total Beauty Capsules, Vitawell Energy Vita Voom Gummies, Vitawell Collagen Total Beauty Gummies, Vitawell Hair Lush Locks Gummies, Vitawell Beauty Shine & Glow Gummies.

There really is something for everyone of all ages, sexes and requirements. 

To learn more and to make your purchases visit them at https://www.vitawellvitamins.com/