Busi Jacobsohn is an English Sparkling Wine producer in the High Weald of East Sussex, and is making dazzling wines and all from estate-grown fruit.
Today the debut vintage of Busi Jacobsohn's Blanc de Noirs 2018 has been announced as the winner of the Sparkling Wine Trophy at the Independent English Wine Awards (IEWA) 2023.
Chair of the judges and Master of Wine Liam Steevenson MW described it as "Absolutely stunning and perhaps the best fizz from anywhere I have tasted this year."
The Blanc de Noirs 2018 also performed brilliantly at this year's International Wine Challenge, bagging another Gold medal there.
Estate owner Susannah Busi Jacobsohn, when asked how this achievement ranked on a scale of 1 to 10, said simply "11"!
Susanna and her husband Douglas Jacobsohn planted the vineyard in 2015, and since then have been winning many awards for their wines. But this latest trophy is the greatest to date.
Busi Jacobsohn Blanc de Noirs 2018 £48, is available at Yapp.co.uk, Harvey Nichols, busijacobsohn.com.
Challenger brand Pukpip has announced its Real Frozen Bananas Dipped in Chocolate are now stocked in Whole Foods Market, just in time for ice cream season.
Pukpip is challenging the traditional ice cream category by tapping into the rise of permissible yet indulgent frozen fruit snacks. Breaking the mould for frozen treats, Pukpip's frozen bananas are a real fruit alternative to traditional ice cream.
“We believe that Whole Foods Market is the perfect fit for Pukpip, as we strive to help people eat more fruit in ways that are fun, delicious and convenient, providing indulgent fruit snacks that don't compromise on taste,” explains Zara Godfrey, who is the MD at Pukpip.
The London retailer which specialises in responsibly sourced, high-quality foods has added Pukpip's first two products, Milk and Dark Chocolate Dipped Bananas to the frozen section in all seven of it stores.
To celebrate the launch into Whole Foods Market, Pukpip has invested in an eye-catching window display in the Flagship Kensington High Street store, plus OOH media in July around prime London locations to drive awareness of the product listing.
Zara went on to say: “Nine out of ten of us are looking to add more fruit into our diet, and we want to make it easy, fun, and delicious. The creaminess of a frozen banana combined with the tasty, smooth satisfying chocolate makes for an irresistible treat that consumers will be keen to get their hands on this summer. Real fruit, that's indulgent so consumers can feel good about treating themselves!”
Obviously, Pukpip's bananas are responsibly sourced and freshly frozen at source in the coastal region of Ecuador. Using bananas rejected from export due to minor blemishes on their skin, because they're the wrong shape or size, or simply because there are too many on a bunch; Pukpip rescues these wonky bananas that would otherwise be wasted, helping them find their true calling as tasty, chocolate-covered treats. The banana peels are recycled back into the ecosystem.
Pukpip Real Frozen Bananas are only 152-161 calories each, contain no artificial and are ideally positioned as a snack, treat or dessert. The Milk Chocolate Dipped Bananas have picked up a 2022 Great Taste Award and the Dark Chocolate Dipped Bananas are Vegan Certified. Pukpip's frozen bananas are available to retail in milk chocolate and dark chocolate, in multipacks of 3 at an RRP of £3.99
Want to become a stockist? Need to learn more? Email hello@pukpip.com or visit www.pukpip.com. Follow @hellopukpip for news and updates.
(This is making me feel hungry for frozen bananas in chocolate!)
Each hamper contains x4 scones, 114g Cornish clotted cream, 227g strawberry jam, x40 Cornish tea bags, 2 large Cornish pasties and 2 bottles of Korev - Cornish lager.
Father's Day is just around the corner and what better way to show the love and appreciation for the father figure/s in your life than with a thoughtfully curated Cornish food and drink hamper?
Trewithen Dairy's 'Cornish Lager and Pasty Hamper' captures the very essence of Cornwall. From the moment they unwrap it, the very fortunate recipients will be transported to the rugged coastlines and warm-hearted communities that define this most remarkable region. All hampers come carefully packaged and have the option of adding a personalised gift message and a selection of optional extras, too.
Suppliers have been carefully selected to ensure each of the elements represents a true taste of Cornwall. The centrepiece of this gift is the legendary Cornish clotted cream to be smothered over fluffy scones and strawberry jam. This rich and indulgent treat has revered PDO status to ensure that each pot is of highest quality, produced by traditional methods in Cornwall. And is produced nowhere else! Trewithen Dairy uses only milk from Cornish herds, which is gently heated and left to cool slowly, allowing the cream to rise to the surface to form the famous thick, golden crust.
No classic cream tea would be complete without a cup of tea and this hamper includes premium Cornish Tea bags to indulge in a moment or two of relaxation.
For those who appreciate a well-crafted brew, there's two bottles of Korev from St Austell Brewery. Crisp and refreshing, dad can sit back and savour the pride and craftsmanship from the Duchy.
The hamper features two authentic Cornish pasties - a true Cornish delicacy loved by locals and visitors alike.
Trewithen Dairy's Cornish Lager and Pasty Hamper is available for order via the website www.trewithendairy.co.uk/shop and can be scheduled for Father's Day delivery.
Not only is it a fantastic product, it offers support to Sri Lankan farmers to invest in their farms, communities and their local environment.
The Waitrose Duchy Organic product also provides a donation to The Prince of Wales's Charitable Fund.
Waitrose has launched their new own label Coconut Oil, which is both organic and Fairtrade, the first of its kind in the UK.
This coconut oil is produced by the Sonmic Organic and Natural Farmers’ Association (SONFA). They are a small producer organisation which is based in Sri Lanka, and it prioritises organic farming with a strong focus on protecting their local environment.
Fairtrade works with the coconut farmers to ensure they receive a fairer price for their crops, and the Fairtrade producer networks offer farmers training in environmentally friendly pest control techniques, biodiversity and sustainable agriculture.
Tom Shiel, who has, in my opinion, the extremely enviable job as Waitrose Buyer, said: “We're very pleased and proud to be the first UK supermarket to launch a 100% Fairtrade own label Coconut Oil.
"Alongside great quality and taste, the product supports Sri Lankan farmers who produce the coconut oil to invest in their farms, communities and to protect their environment.”
Kerrina Thorogood, Partnerships Director at the Fairtrade Foundation, said: “We applaud Waitrose and SONFA for their collaborative efforts to bring this brilliant new Fairtrade product to UK supermarket shelves.
"Thanks to the Fairtrade Premiums that farmers receive for their certified products, SONFA have completed projects such as repairing the village’s community centre, which was also a pre-school for the farmers’ children. Previously the children weren’t able to attend classes on rainy days due to poor insulation and leaks. However, the building and school equipment have now been renovated, and they can afford to pay the salary of the preschool teacher. We’re delighted that Waitrose’s new partnership with SONFA will allow them to contribute to this vital work.”
Sales from Waitrose Duchy Organic provide a donation to The Prince of Wales's Charitable Fund. Since 2009, customers have helped Waitrose raise in excess of £30 million for good causes, supporting a wide range of projects and communities.
Sonmic Organic and Natural Farmers’ Association (SONFA) is a small producer organisation in Sri Lanka which produces coconuts among other products. They employ some 100 permanent paid employees who are disadvantaged by global trade. In 2018 SONFA became Fairtrade certified, and since then producers have been striving to improve their livelihoods and their aspirations or a better, brighter future.
SONFA prioritise organic farming, with a strong focus on protection of the environment through sustainable development. All the farms adhere to the Fairtrade Standards to ensure that all produce is of the highest quality and fit for both global and local markets.
Lidl has once again been named cheapest supermarket in The Grocer’s ‘Super Grocer 33’, beating all major supermarkets, including Aldi.
The price index, which compares the price of 33 everyday grocery items across all the UK’s seven major supermarkets, found Lidl to be £19.91 cheaper than Waitrose, the most expensive retailer. This win comes as Lidl’s fourth accolade, out of five surveys since the Grocer 33’s inception.
The survey also found Lidl came out cheapest even after other supermarkets’ discount schemes were taken into consideration.
Overall, the discounter was found to be 10% (£6.17) cheaper than Tesco, and still £5.13 after Clubcard discounts were applied. Similarly, the same products at Sainsburys cost £6.80 more, with no benefit from the supermarket’s Nectar Prices.
The accolade also comes despite traditional supermarkets recently announcing an array of price drops, demonstrating that the Lidl still offers better value.
The Grocer compares prices of items on shopping lists across the nation as part of the monthly analysis – from fresh produce, such as milk and grapes, to deodorant, and branded items including Hovis Bread and Kellogg’s Corn Flakes.
Lidl offered the cheapest price on 26 products – and exclusively the lowest price for five products across a range of categories, including:
Baby corn at £2.79 (76p cheaper than the most expensive and 4p cheaper than the next cheapest)
Kellogg’s Corn Flakes at £2.05 (25p cheaper than the most expensive and 20p cheaper than the next cheapest)
Domestos bleach at £1.39 (21p cheaper than the most expensive and 10p cheaper than the next cheapest retailer)
Prawns at £1.99 (£1.76 cheaper than the most expensive and 20p cheaper than the next cheapest)
Custard creams at 54p (26p cheaper than the most expensive and 1p cheaper than the next cheapest)
It’s not just the Super Grocer 33 basket proving this – for the past fourteen weeks Lidl has also been cheapest in a weekly price comparison conducted by the Manchester Evening News on essential groceries.
Ryan McDonnell, Chief Executive Officer at Lidl GB, said: “Every week, independent analysis shows we are consistently the UK’s cheapest supermarket. As a result, we are seeing more customers coming through our doors and switching their weekly shop to Lidl from the traditional supermarkets.
“We know people switch to us make savings, but then stay with us when they realise that they’re not having to compromise on quality.”
Great value has a new address as Sainsbury’s moves all its entry price point brands to the name Stamford Street.
Named after the previous home of Sainsbury’s, the brand will celebrate Sainsbury’s heritage of quality and value by assisting customers more easily find everyday staples at budget-friendly prices.
Two thirds of Sainsbury's customers say they're concerned about the rising cost of groceries as inflation continues to bite and own brand ranges are increasingly popular as shoppers look for ways to cut back on their food spending.
In the last three months alone, Sainsbury’s volume sales of own brand value products have grown by nearly 10%. This is why it's doing all it can to help keep prices lower and investing to refresh its value range, making it easier for customers to find fantastic prices on the staples they buy week in, week out.
The Stamford Street range will consist of some 200 products and has already started hitting shelves, with products rolling out between now and Autumn.
Customers will still be able to shop their favourite staples as all products from the original ranges including Mary Ann’s and J. James will be moved across.
Over 20 new high-volume products have also been added to the range, including Soft Spread (99p), Beef & Onion pie (£2.90) and Cheese Tortelloni (£1.21).
Stamford Street in London’s Blackfriars was the home of Sainsbury’s for over a century and the new branding reflects its commitment to combining the best possible quality with great value. To make it even easier to find the range, it features brand new packaging to give it a refreshed and distinctive look and feel.
Products will also be grouped together on shelves and dedicated signage in stores, plus as a custom page on the website, will be set up. Sainsbury’s excellent colleagues will, as ever, be on hand to help customers find what they’re looking for.
The launch is just one of the ways Sainsbury’s is continuing to help customers manage their budgets as summer approaches, following its record investment of more than £560 million in value over the last two years. It coincides with the latest instalment of the popular Aldi Price Match campaign which hit stores this week.
A quarter of the products in the Stamford Street range are included in the campaign, which matches around 300 Sainsbury’s quality products to Aldi prices. New products have been added to the campaign including canned tuna, which has been reduced in price to 72p per tin. This week Sainsbury’s announced its move to 100% MSC certified pole and line caught canned tuna and it's the first of the big four supermarkets to do this.
Sainsbury’s customers will also be able to save money on their favourite branded products following the recent launch of Nectar Prices, which offers discounts to all supermarket and online customers using the Nectar app or card. It's already exceeding expectations and customers have saved over £34 million across discounts on over 1,300 products since launch.
Rhian Bartlett, who is the Food Commercial Director at Sainsbury’s, said: “Our own brand products are becoming more and more important to our customers as the cost of living crisis continues to impact so many households up and down the country.
"This is why we’ve worked to consolidate and rebrand the Stamford Street range to help our customers more easily find it in stores and online. Offering customers delicious food at affordable prices has been at the heart of Sainsbury’s for over 150 years and this is why I’m so proud to see these products now on shelves.”
Thatchers Cider unveils a new TV commercial today (Thursday 25th May 2023), which sees the Somerset cider maker collaborating with multi-Academy Award® winning studio Aardman.
Airing for the first time at 9.15pm on 25th May, the commercial uses stop motion animation to bring the viewer through the gates of Thatchers' own Myrtle Farm home in a light-hearted and affectionate way. We see how the family cider maker's dedication along every step of the way achieves Pint-Sized Perfection.
Aardman uses its world-class skills in perfectly crafted hand-made miniature worlds to bring Thatchers' expertise to the screen. Iconic elements of Myrtle Farm such as its orchards, help tell the story of carefully crafting the perfect drop of cider. Some familiar faces make an appearance throughout the commercial, including fourth generation cider maker Martin Thatcher making a big entrance for the weekly 12.30 tasting. Viewers may also recognise the iconic Thatchers hot air balloon from previous ads, as well as Myrtle, the family dog.
Thatchers Cider, with market leading premium brands including Thatchers Gold, Haze and Blood Orange, is still making cider at the same family farm where founder William Thatcher first grew and pressed apples almost 120 years ago. The Pint-Sized Perfection commercial tells the story of the Thatchers commitment to crafting the tastiest ciders, resonating with consumers who seek out values of authenticity and sustainability in their cider choice.
With its relentless pursuit of perfection, the commercial follows the cider making journey from the orchards to glass, through Aardman's unique and characterful story telling technique.
Martin Thatcher, who has had cameo appearances in all of Thatchers recent TV ads, says, “Partnering with Aardman, a truly iconic brand with such amazing creative genius, and situated in the West Country as we are, allows us to introduce consumers to a new light-hearted, storytelling creative about our ciders.
“With total commitment to quality, perfection and sustainability every step of the way, the commercial shines a spotlight on the Thatchers world in this contemporary way.”
Viewers may also recognise the familiar voice of the narrator – Richard Ede – who has also featured in previous commercials from Thatchers.
The commercial has been directed by Aardman's Will Studd and produced by Danny Gallagher.
With total dedication to their craft, a team of 40 creatives at Aardman were involved in the film, with animators alone needing over 480 hours to shoot the 40 second commercial.
Will Studd, director at Aardman adds: “I am thrilled to be directing a new advert for Thatchers, a cider brand that shares our passion for craft and attention to detail. As a paid-up cider enthusiast, I am drinking in the opportunity to bring the Thatchers family, farm, dog, and selected staff members to life with detailed puppets and sets.
“Being able to collaborate with such a well-established South West brand on this project is an honour, I'm eager to create a beautiful film that captures the essence of Thatchers and their focus on perfection.”
Martin continues, “This is a film that allows people to step into the world of Thatchers. Our passion for creating the most perfect cider is reflected in the genius of Aardman, whose animators have recreated life at Myrtle Farm in the most minute and exacting detail, from our iconic barn doors, to our hot air balloon where the basket was handwoven out of real straw. Fabric from our own workwear has even been used to create some of the costumes.
“In partnering with Aardman we've been in awe of their attention to detail, their pursuit of perfection, which truly resonates with all that we strive for at Thatchers.”
The commercial will have a multi-media launch, the campaign continuing through to August. This will include linear TV, broadcast video on demand, cinema and YouTube. This will be enhanced with 48 sheet and 6 sheet OOH, and a consumer focussed social media campaign.
This Father's Day, British artisan beer brand Empress Ale is offering the perfect gift for dads everywhere.
Empress Ales are premium craft British beers made using the finest natural ingredients, sourced as locally as possible, wherever this is possible.
The range, which includes a Pale Ale, an IPA, and a Pilsner-style lager that's gluten-free, organic and vegan, are smooth, light and easy to drink and are designed to be enjoyed whatever the occasion.
They're stocked in venues and restaurants all over the UK, including City Social by Jason Atherton, the Goodman Group, and Adams in Birmingham, plus in branches of Waitrose.
But the perfect way to get a gift direct to a dad this Father's Day is to order from the Empress website, treating the beer fan in your life to a selection of the Empress beers or perhaps a few bottles of their favourite?
To celebrate the occasion, Empress is giving an extra 10% discount for online orders for Father's Day, along with free shipping.
Entrepreneur Surj Virk set up Empress in 2016, growing it into a premium brand stocked in some of the top hospitality venues across the UK.
A dad himself, he said the range makes the perfect gift, on Father's Day or all-year round, - because of the personal touch that's gone into creating it.
“Empress is a hugely personal beer brand," he said. “The whole range has been created with love - a British-made beer using old English recipes for inspiration, but also with a nod to my Indian heritage and some very personal tributes to members of my family.
“Our Pale Ale, IPA, and Pilsner-style Lager are all proving hugely popular - both when served with food in restaurants across the country, and when bought direct from us to either go with food at home, or to drink with family and friends.
“That means they make great gift options for any occasion, and for Father's Day we're offering a special discount code to treat the dad in your life. Just add FATHER2023 when at the online checkout and you'll get an extra 10% off and free shipping when you spend over £45.”
The trend for plant based milk is showing no signs of slowing down, with one in three of us Brits choosing plant based alternatives to dairy.
Milky Plant is a brand new appliance which makes plant based milk at home from nuts, seeds, cereals and water.
Simply add the chosen ingredient to the blender, fill the water tank and within three minutes a litre of plant based milk is produced.
This is an even healthier alternative to supermarket bought milks which contain preservatives, emulsifiers, seed oils and gums.
What's more, making plant based milk at home saves cash at 30-90% per serving compared to buying it ready made.
The Milky Plant machine costs £290 and it takes an estimated180 uses to recoup the costs of the machine, depending on which ingredients are used to make the milk.
Creating milk at home also reduces the volume of tetra pak containers which end up in landfill, (they can't be recycled as of yet) that's nearly 300k per year. If they were placed end to end the line would stretch from central London to Milton Keynes.
Said Nadina Grigoras, founder of Milky Plant: “A few years ago I was diagnosed with high cholesterol and wanted to make healthy changes to my diet. I quickly realised supermarket bought plant-based milks aren't as natural or healthy as they claim to be as they are high in saturated fat, additives and preservatives. Making plant based milk at home was very messy and time consuming, so I set about creating my own appliance to remove all the hard work!"
She went on to explain: “Milky Plant offers a healthier, cheaper and more sustainable alternative to shop bought plant based milks. I love adding maple syrup or dates along with my nuts or seeds to add natural sweetness to the milks and there are so many other recipes and ways to drink Milky Plant milk, the possibilities really are endless.”
Milky Plant uses patent-pending technology to strain out the seed, nut or cereal pulp from the final milk. This feature means no more messy blenders or squeezing cheese cloths or nut bags, making it much simpler and easier to use at home. And far less fiddly! The pulp is stored in an easily accessible compartment at the front of the machine. It's almost dry and can be re-used in other recipes such as homemade granola or smoothie bowls, or even for composting. (EDITOR: How about used for baking? There's a thought!)
Milky Plant has recently been enrolled in the Amazon sustainability accelerator scheme which is an exclusive programme for just 15 sustainable businesses per year.
A draft opinion that would place restrictions on the labelling of plant-based dairy alternatives should be torn up, the Plant-based Food Alliance UK (PBFA) has said today.
The opinion, drafted in February 2022 by an ad hoc and unaccountable group of trading standards officials, called the Food Standards and Information Focus Group (FSIFG), states that phrases such as “mylk”, “m*lk” , “not m*lk” or “alternative to” a dairy product should be banned.
If published, the guidance could lead to products being pulled from the shelves if a complaint is made about the labelling on a product that falls within its scope.
Despite repeated concerns expressed to Defra by the PBFA late last year about the guidance, Defra told PBFA members this month that responsibility for the issue lies “solely with local authorities and the Trading Standards Officers acting on their behalf”.
The PBFA, which represents the UK’s plant-based food sector, wasn't consulted during the drafting of the document and is now pushing for it to be withdrawn.
“The guidance was drafted behind closed doors and without the consultation of the plant-based food sector,” Alliance CEO, Marisa Heath, pointed out.
“Not only was this developed in an undemocratic process, it's also highly anti-competitive as it restricts consumer choice and seeks to curb a booming industry,” Heath added.
Total unit sales for plant-based milk increased by 17% between 2020-2022, whereas conventional milk unit sales decreased by 6% between 2020 and 2022, according to Nielsen data published by the Good Food Institute Europe.
Consumers are not confused
The guidance is based on the unfounded belief consumers are confused by names such as “plant-based butter” or “not milk”. But in the US, draft guidance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued this year stated that the word “milk” could be used for plant-based drinks precisely because consumers were not confused by such labelling.
The EU chose not to impose similar restrictions on dairy descriptor names in 2021 when the European Parliament voted down Amendment 171, which would have censored terms such as “creamy” and “buttery” for plant-based products.
“Not only does the UK guidance assume consumers are stupid, it goes beyond what is enforceable in the EU, which is ironic bearing in mind that the UK voted to leave the EU on the basis that it wouldn't be tied down by European regulations,” Heath said.
Jeremy Coller, President of the Alternative Proteins Association in the UK, said: “Civil servants must have a rather dim view of British consumers if they think shoppers find labelslike “vegan cheese” and “soya mylk” unduly confusing.
"People have been successfully buying such products for years now, without the need for officials to explain oats and almonds don’t come from cows. And these latest proposed rules set an unfortunate precedent for the alternative proteins sector as a whole. If the government is serious about growing the economy and supporting business in the UK, it should be letting consumers make up their own minds rather than patronising them.”
The guidance also goes against efforts by the UK government to make society more sustainable. The production and consumption of plant-based foods emits half the amount of greenhouse gases as animal-based foods, so governments need to be bringing in measures that actively enable societies to shift to more plant rich foods to help tackle climate change.
The Plant-based Food Alliance UK is a coalition of organisations including Oatly, Alpro, Upfield, The Vegan Society, Good Food Institute and ProVeg who have come together to create a strong voice for the plant-based food sector in the UK.
